Agent-Based Parametric Semiology

Bogdan Zaha 

Zaha Architects Ltd 

9am - 10am 

BIO: 

London base architect, creative, computational designer, researcher and lecturer. Graduate and student assistant at the University of Applied Arts, Studio Zaha Hadid in Vienna. Z cluster team member of Zaha Hadid Architects, leading project specific design teams throughout all design stages. Research and PhD Fellow at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna developing a thesis around the concept of Agent-Based Parametric Semiology.

Talk topic: "Agent-Based Parametric Semiology and the role of a Design Research Team in practice."

Architecture’s core competency is to articulate, in a responsible way, the complexity of the built environment. A world where we need to take-in and operate, independently & collectively manifested complex parameters that exist independent of our minds.The aim of agent based parametric semiology is it to move from an intuitive participation within an evolving semiosis to an explicit design agenda that understands the design of a large scale architectural complex as an opportunity to design a new, coherent system of signification, a new artificial architectural language, without relying on the familiar codes found in the existing built environments.

Alexander Grasser - Architect + Designer 

10am - 11am 

BIO: 

Alexander Grasser is a austrian architect, designer and researcher with focus on computational design strategies, collaborative objects, sustainability and elastic architecture. 

Currently Alexander is Assistant Professor teaching and researching at the Institute of Architecture and Media, Graz. During his academic architectural education at the TU Vienna, and the University of Innsbruck, Dipl.Ing, he developed skills in computational architecture, robotic fabrication and contemporary theory. Besides deep academic research, Alexander had the chance to share his knowledge teaching computational software courses as well as assisting design studio courses in Innsbruck and Vienna.

Furthermore Alexander gained professional experience at the architectural offices Graft(Berlin), Span(Shanghai) and CoopHimmelb(l)au(Vienna), as well as ongoing collaborations with Heron-Mazy and Bart//Bratke. 

The works of Alexander Grasser were widely published and received recognitions in open architectural competitions. Additionally some projects have been exhibited in Munich, Berlin, Washington DC, Frankfurt, Madrid, London, Innsbruck, Graz and Vienna.

Talk Topic: Digital collaboration using gaming environments is extremely innovative.

Alexander will discuss collaborative architecture and how he has created a platform within his teaching and research. Collaborative Matter(s) explores a Realtime Architecture Platform, which was applied in a telepresence design studio to design and construct different prototypes. 

The platform, enables an open workflow to collaborate and design in unity. It provides an online persistent environment for realtime architectural production. The work method is based on the concept of collaborative objects and distributed designers. These collaborative objects are the shared content: discrete parts, prefabs or blocks that enable interaction, communication and collaboration with and between it’s users and owners. The distributed designers can contribute, by instantiating these collaborative objects. The users get immersed in digital proximity by communicating through the integrated chat or digital calls, discussing strategies, debating on design intentions, analyzing the built structure, and scanning for improvements. This pervasive collaboration lays the foundation for a democratization of the design process. 

Learning outcomes and AACA competencies:

• 4. Design: Schematic Design 
• 4.2 Evaluation of design options against values of physical , environmental and cultural contexts. 
• 4.3 Application of creative  imagination aesthetic judgement to produce  coherent design 
• 4.6 Investigation and integration of appropriate material selection for the project design.