Assembled Architecture
An Effort to Generate Architectures of Assemblies Components Design Custom Assemblage Method Custom Evaluation Criteria Building the Dataset Assemblage Selection Application Testing
DISCRETE ASSEMBLIES: Parts that Precede Buildings
Syllabus
Credits: Gilles Retsin Architecture, 2017
This course aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of discrete building systems, at the intersection of prefabrication and automation. Based on the proposition for automation in architecture as the digital distribution of discrete parts, this course addresses a range of questions related to technical logics, architectural qualities, and the socio-economic impact of automation.
The technical logics concern issues such as timber prefabrication, robotics, and discrete computation. Through a hands-on approach, participants will learn how to work with these technologies and explore their potential applications in architecture. They will engage in discussions about the benefits and challenges of using these technologies in building construction. As a case-study, the workshop will make use of a 1/10 scale mini-blocks, a smaller version of a large building block, made out of 9mm plywood.
The architectural qualities question the possibility of a discrete architecture and its spatial, aesthetic, theoretical, and experiential consequences. Through design exercises, participants will explore the aesthetic and experiential possibilities of a discrete architecture. They will examine the spatial implications of this approach by developing physical prototypes on a smaller scale. In this context, the course will explore the potential of Image GAN’s (Generative Adversarial Networks) as a co-pilot for design. Students will use GAN’s to generate variations of direct design-intent, and learn how to transfer these images into discrete aggregations.
Participants will engage in discussions about the potential impact of automation on the architectural profession, including the changing roles of architects and the future of architectural education. They will also examine the potential for new forms of architectural production and distribution made possible by automation.
Participants will engage in discussions about the role of design in addressing social and environmental issues and explore ways to apply the principles of automation to create more just and sustainable built environments. This course provides a unique opportunity to explore the potential of automation in architecture and its implications for the design of our built environment.
Credits: Gilles Retsin Architecture, 2016
Learning Objectives
At course completion the student will:
- learn about timber automation, structures and design through a hands-on workshop format;
- study and prototype with a series of mini-blocks, exploring the use of post-tensioning and patterning
- explore discrete design through prototypical models and Image-GAN’s
- understanding the wider socio-political implications around industrialised construction and automation
Faculty
Projects from this course
THE HOUSE OF QUESTION MARK
During this course, we delved into the methodologies of modular building using wood modules designed by Gilles Retsin. By employing techniques like stacking and post-tensioning, we investigated both the potential and constraints of these modules. Our journey started with the assembly of the module, during which we constructed elements such as beam, column, opening and … Read more
Discrete Assemblies
TWO COLUMNS ABSTRACT In this course we explored the strategies of modular construction using Gilles Retsin’s modules. Through strategies of stacking and post-tensioning we explored the opportunities and limitations of the module. We began by assembling the module and constructing a beam element where we pushed the limitations of maunal post tensioning. Afterwards, using Midjourney … Read more
Dif-Used House
Discrete Assemblies with Gilles Retsin Introduction How can primordial components be aggregated to form complex structures, that are at once easy to assemble and comfortable to live in? This was the question that defined our workshop with instructor Gilles Retsin. During the workshop, Gilles introduced us to his system of assembling buildings from discrete components. … Read more
Discrete Assemblies
Parts that Precede Buildings This course helped us to gain a comprehensive understanding of discrete building systems with the use of prefabrication and automation. During this one week workshop, discussed topics such as timber prefabrication, robotics and discrete computation for later on participating with a hands-on approach to build several structures using timber boxes and … Read more
