Form Manufacturing – SYLLABUS Fall 2013

CORSO DI LAUREA MAGISTRALE ARCHITETTURA [classe LM-4 | cod. B076]

CURRRICULUM ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN [cod. D59]

CORSO DI LAUREA MAGISTRALE ARCHITETTURA [classe LM-4 | cod. B076]

CURRRICULUM ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN [cod. D59]

iCAD International Course onArchitectural Design

MASTER PROGRAM

COURSE:ARCHITECTURE STRUCTURAL DESIGN LAB [cod. D59]

CLASS:SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS DESIGN

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FORM MANUFACTURING

prof. Giuseppe Ridolfi, PhD

SYLLABUSFALL 2013

iCAD International Course on Architectural Design – Master Program 2013-14

Architecture structural design lab [cod. D59]

SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS DESIGN FALL 2013 / 6 CFU

prof. arch. Giuseppe Ridolfi PhdEmail [email protected]: 3357066597

Class Location: room 06, S. Teresa, via della mattonaia 14Class Hours: Fri 11:00- 13:00 / 14:00-16:00

Office Location: room 27, Palazzo Vegni, via s.Niccolò 89/aOffice Hours: Tu 10:30-12:30

Digital technologies for architectural design. Form manufacturing

CLASS OUTLINE

Class description. «Systems and components design» (first year) and «Environmental systems design» (second year) represent the disciplinary contribution of «Technology of architecture» to the two integrated laboratories «Architecture structural design lab» (1st year) and «Building and environmental design lab» (2nd year).The aim of these two classes is to explore new technologies and related opportunities derived from digital computation and industrial automatic production in conceiving, designing and produc-ing architecture. In this semester, the «Systems and components design» class begins with a preliminary introduction to industrial design in architecture and an overview about processes involving generation and management of digital information to support decision-making in con-structions known as Building Information Modeling (Revit/Autodesk, 2003), Building Design Ad-visor (Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1993), Building Information Model (G.A. van Nederveen, F.P. Tolman, 1992), Integrated Project Models (Microstation/Bentley Systems, 1984) Virtual Building (Archicad, Gábor Bojár, 1982) and Building Description System (Charles Eastman, 1974). The class then covers a preliminary understanding about the workflow between compu-tational design, building modeling and computer programmable devices for architectural con-structions.

More in detail, the class of the first year covers methodologies and skills about the use of soft-ware and automatic manufacturing technologies for the production/control of structures, com-ponents and elements of buildings. The topic is «Form manufacturing» in which students are asked to study forms and model materials to feed automatic manufacturing in order to fabricate a «Structural Envelope System Prototype» to apply in the «Architectural Design» class and verified in the «Structural Design» class.

For these reasons, the class of this semester is not approaching the building shaping as a mere invention of free-form and software is not intended and used as a tools for rendering, but as a coherent and interoperative process to address the real manufacture of buildings: a new modus operandi for architectural designers. Emphasis is upon the use of 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD), and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) related to the technologies of laser cutting. According to the characteristics of this technology, the class promotes the study of structural plane plates and their generation/assembly criteria.

Syllabus | Digital technologies for architectural design. Form manufacturing | prof. Giuseppe Ridolfi, PhD

iCAD International Course on Architectural Design | Architecture and structure design lab | Systems and components design | FALL 2013 / 6 CFU | pg.2

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

The class is organized in different stages:

• introduction: from the industrial production as a «zero tolerance» manufacturing to Build-ing Information Modeling;

• shape investigation: intuitive shape research and optimization processes through the ob-servation of natural morphogenesis, architectural case-study analysis and experiments based on transformational methods entailing manipulation of surfaces or objects through procedures such as cutting/stretching, morphing/warping, folding/unfolding, origami/kirigami, waffling techniques and patterning strategies;

• digital shaping and project proposal developing: use of 3d modeling softwares and other digital tools and plugins for paneling, tessellation and surfaces developing to integrate the previous shape investigation and to support the automatic fabrication of the projects in relationship with the «Architectural Design» class;

• numerical controlled production: study of CAM with specific insights on laser cutting technology and its application in architectural constructions;

• production preparation: data preparation for production addressing specific attention to tolerance, scale and material characteristics.

• production: elements manufacturing and assembling to realize a «Structural Envelope System Prototype» as the Final Project Proposal.

Methodology and activity specifications. The class is a fab-lab conceived as an hybrid computer based hands off/hands on activity, supported by the department’s laser cutter Architectural Models Laboratory (LMA), reinforced by theoretical dissertations and intermediate/final Stu-dents’ Presentation Board.

Theoretical activities are carried out through teacher’s slide presentations integrated by guest lectures on parametric/generative modeling and CAD/CAM data translation; selected readings on digital architecture, new construction technologies and advanced materials; desk-crits; pin-up discussions; poster presentations; individual and collective reviews.Practical activities are developed through home and in-class assignments concerning case-study analysis on meaningful examples of architectures involving use of digital design and computer manufacturing technologies; natural morphogenesis observations; physical/digital shape ma-nipulations and generations; model making and final manufacturing concerning files preparation to support laser cutting processes and assembling the resulting elements and parts.

Teaching methods include knowledge database online sharing (via Dropbox, Issuu and mainly Mindmup) produced by the concurrent cooperation of teacher and students; personal scrapbook (Taccuino) to gather ideas, suggestions, copies of sketches, assumptions and verifications car-ried out during the design process and for the documentation of the fabrication phase and the learning process of each student.

Class goals. Upon completion the class, the student is expected to acquire:• awareness about the nature, efficiency and constraints of automated production sys-

tems;• capacity to understand contemporary digital architecture;• knowledge and skills to conceive and manage construction operational workflows and

architectural artifacts under the digital technologies of industrial manufacturing;• geometrical knowledge and skills to operate in form generation and modeling software;



• confidence with spatial aggregations at different scales of plane elements in order to re-alize structural systems and architectural envelopes;

• abilities to manage the designing process combining architectural design, structural en-gineering, construction technologies, materials and computer fabrication techniques;

• basic understanding of the computer-numerically assisted fabrication process and, more specifically, laser cutter machines and software to feed them;

• capacity to produce physical models and to test precision and feasibility of architectural ideas;

• awareness on advanced technologies and new materials suitable for digital architecture;• abilities to conceive communication strategies and to realize effective public presenta-

tions through consistent digital instruments.

Assignments and Grade. Student work evaluation is based on the following assignments, relative credits and weights:

credit assignment weight1 Individual Taccuino «On form investigation» - Vol. 1 | Diagrams and Reali-

zations > Brochure to publish on ISSUU & poster presentation15%

2 Schematic «Final Project Proposal» > Pin-up discussion and validation 10%

3 The DFAB Collaborative Mind Mapping > Class presentation 15%

4 Individual Taccuino «On form investigation» - Vol. 2 | Research on As-sembly & Joining Technology > Brochure to publish on ISSUU

15%

5 «Final Project Proposal» > Interdisciplinary Slide presentation 10%

6 «Final Project Proposal» > Final Exam Presentation Board 35%

The Final Exam (credit #06) is focused on the assessment of the Final Project Proposal concern-ing a «Structural Envelope System Prototype». The Student has to communicate succinctly her/his results through the Presentation Board showing:

• concept, diagrams and references as an excerpt of the Taccuino researches• renderings • general and detailed drawings• prototype• documentation of the construction process and methodologies

Materials to submit for the Final Exam are:• Taccuino «On form investigation» - Vol. 1 | Diagrams and Realizations (format: UNI DIN A4 /

horizontal)

• Taccuino «On form investigation» - Vol. 2 | Research on «Assembly and Joining Tech-nology»

• (format: UNI DIN A4 / horizontal)

• Final Project Proposal (format: UNI DIN A4 / horizontal)

• Prototype of the Final Project Proposal • Slide presentation



• CD/DVD collecting all the files produced by the studentGrades are expressed in thirty taking in consideration originality, creativity, refinement, dedica-tion, attention, completeness, correctness:

• 30L- 29 exceptional evaluation, awarded to students whose work is outstanding• 28-27 distinguished evaluation, awarded to students whose work is good• 26-24 average evaluation, awarded to students whose work is adequate• 23-18 low evaluation, awarded to students whose work is sufficient but not completely

satisfactory in all the aspects• <18 insufficient, awarded to students whose work failed in several aspects• NC «not classified», awarded to students whose work is missing or presents severe

lacks.

Attendance. This is an occupational class, and attendance is important. Class policy establishes that if the student is not attending compulsory classes (see the Class schedule) or has collects more than three absences in normal class fails the exam. In any case, the professor is not re-sponsible for students who are not receiving information due to their truancy although most of the information is accessible on line.

Academic integrity and honesty. The class is against plagiarism and dishonesty. Cheating, ap-propriation of materials from other authors without crediting them and re-using researches or projects done in previous course without appropriate authorization is a violation of the Univer-sity’s code of academic integrity. Penalties for such violations can result in loss of credits, to fail the course and, in severe cases, to incur legal actions. Students are invited to place clearly source references and credits in appropriate way using standard conventions.

Class requirements. The student attending the class is required to have her/his laptop with pre-installed 3D CAD software, raster/vector graphic programs and any other digital tools for visual communication and public presentations. Plugins and other specific software useful to support the activities of the class will be available for free downloading during the semester.Although the class is an introductory teaching on BIM and 3D CAD/CAM, each student is ex-pected to have confidence in CAD with a basic understanding of solid modeling and to be skilled in graphic design for final and intermediate presentations. Because the class is not providing any teaching about the use of CAD and graphic software and considering that the class proceeds from scratch to advanced modeling techniques and to the parametric/generative design of the second year, the student is strongly recommended to enter the short course provided by the «Laboratorio Informatico del Dipartimento di Architettura (LIA)» in order to reinforce their skills and abilities. Date of submission and topic of the short courses will be given during the class.

In addition, the student is required to have completed studies on traditional materials and tech-nologies for architectural constructions.

Bibliography and Resources. Bibliography, reading materials, lectures integrations, tutorials to assist assignments and other resources including the Syllabus, the Class Schedule are available online for free at the Course Map. The student is required to access regularly the Course Map to check news and resources update sent during the semester.

Major topics and Tags. Architectural industrial design, automated fabrication, BIM, CAD/CAM, digital modeling, folding, interoperability, kirigami, laser cutting, morphogenesis, origami, struc-tural plane plates, tessellation, waffling.



https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9buc3ySHfibYTR6WlZsNml0clE/edit?usp=sharing


Digital technologies for architectural design. Form manufacturing

CLASS SCHEDULE

The program of the course is articulated as follows:

9. october > online download> Home Assignments: Students are asked to read: 2013 | G. Ridolfi, Industrial Design and Architectural Digital Fabrication2003 | Greg Lynn , Architectural Curvilinearity.2010 | Ankit Surti, Digital Architecture Essay.Undated | Branko Kolarevic, Digital Morphogenesis and Computational ArchitecturesExplanatory examples can be found on the Students’ past ISSUU Research:– G.Tognarelli, T. Postelnik, Digital Fabrication (in Italian)

From the reading students have to extract 7 tags as a matter for the next Friday discussion and to start the «DFAB collaborative Mind Mapping»

11.october > compulsory attendance(11:00-13:00) Lecture and Discussion on « Industrial Design and Architectural Digital Fabrication»; (14:00-16:00) Course & Taccuino «On form investigation» description; Students’ Registration> Home Assignments: Students are asked to:– Research on internet guides and tutorials on paper folding (origami and kirigami)– Start some basic experiments on paper folding technique to develop the next Friday «Empirical form investigation»Explanatory examples can be found on the Students’ past ISSUU Research:– M.G. Petrai, Gabriela E. Tognacca, Folding Architecture (in Italian)– To download examples and origami diagrams to use, look at the «Assignment & Credits Info Node» on the Course Map

18. october > compulsory attendance(11:00-13:00) Lecture on «Structural plane plates shaping and technologies»; Final Project Proposal introduction.(14:00-18:00) Studio activities on «Empirical form investigation».> Home Assignments:Students are asked to:– Update her/his Taccuino with researched materials and documentation from the «Empirical form investigation» (for this task students can access the Students’ past ISSUU Research Stack: «Form Manufacturing | Resources»– Start “the DFAB Collaborative Mind Mapping” (for this task students should access and practice the online tool MindMup)

22. october > compulsory attendance(09:00-11:00) Guest lecture. Prof. G. Verdiani on «Digireal models and the way to use them easily».

06 november > online upload on Issuu Students’s Stack(Deadline 24:00 h) Individual Taccuino «On form investigation» submission - Volume 1| Diagrams and Realizations [credit #01]

08 november > compulsory attendance(11:00-18:00) Poster presentation and discussion of individual Taccuino «On form investigation» [credit #01] For the presentation students are asked to realize a poster UNI DIN A2 (Vertical) to synthesize the research

15. november



http://issuu.com/artichoc/docs/industrial_design_and_ark

http://issuu.com/artichoc/docs/industrial_design_and_ark

http://it.scribd.com/doc/16790340/Architectural-Curvilinearity-Lynn

http://it.scribd.com/doc/16790340/Architectural-Curvilinearity-Lynn

http://www.scribd.com/doc/33727289/Digital-Architecture-Essay

http://www.scribd.com/doc/33727289/Digital-Architecture-Essay

http://cumincades.scix.net/data/works/att/fbc9.content.pdf

http://cumincades.scix.net/data/works/att/fbc9.content.pdf

http://issuu.com/b.ikea/docs/digital_fabrications

http://issuu.com/b.ikea/docs/digital_fabrications

http://issuu.com/gamafriends/docs/issuu

http://issuu.com/gamafriends/docs/issuu



http://issuu.com/artichoc/stacks/4722b954132047eb896bdba651ef1f07

http://issuu.com/artichoc/stacks/4722b954132047eb896bdba651ef1f07

http://www.mindmup.com

http://www.mindmup.com

http://issuu.com/artichoc/stacks/06b3b596be0942a8b02ca9bb40a630b9


(11:00-16:00) Studio activities to start the «Final Project Proposal» > Home Assignments: Students are asked to start the «Final Project Proposal»

22. november > compulsory attendance(11:00-13:00) Lecture on «Advanced Materials and Assembling»(14:00-18:00) Studio activities on «Final Project Proposal» development and individual review for approval> Home Assignments: Students are asked to start the Taccuino Volume 2 | Research on «Assembly & Joining Technology»

29. november > compulsory attendance(11:00-18:00) Pin-up schematic «Final Project Proposal» discussion and validation [credit #02]

02 dicember > compulsory attendance(09:00-11:00) Guest lecture on 3D modeling for real(14:00-16:00) Visit to the Architectural Models Laboratory (LMA) to experience the laser cutting machine

06. december > compulsory attendance(11:00-13:00) Presentation of “the DFAB Collaborative Mind Mapping” [credit #03](14:00-18:00) Studio activities on «Final Project Proposal» development and individual review

11 december > online upload on Issuu Students’ stack(Deadline 24:00 h) Individual Taccuino «On form investigation» submission - Volume 2| Research on «Assembly & Joining Technology» [credit #04]

13. december(11:00-16:00) Studio activities on «Production data preparation»

10. january(11:00-16:00) Studio activities on «Production and assembly»(16:00-18:00) «Final Project Proposal» Interdisciplinary slide presentation [credit#05] (reserved for students who intend to take the exam in the First Call)

16. january > Final exam – First Call(9:00-11:00) «Final Project Proposal» Presentation Board [credit#06] (reserved for students who intend to take the exam in the First Call)(11:00-18:00) «Final Project Proposal» Interdisciplinary slide presentation [credit#05]

24 january (11:00-16:00) On demand review

31 january(11:00-16:00) On demand review

07 february (11:00-16:00) On demand review

13. february Final exam – Second Call(09:00-18:00) «Final Project Proposal» Presentation Board [credit#06]





Documents

Form Manufacturing – SYLLABUS Fall 2013