_Architecture Inspired by Ensō: Unity Through Cycles At the heart of The Vertical Machine lies a philosophical foundation. Borrowing from the Zen concept of ensō, the circle that symbolizes the beauty of incompleteness and the continuity of cycles, the project embraces imperfection and transformation. Just as an ensō is drawn in a single fluid stroke, … Read more
A Brief Introduction The site for Hyperbuilding-B is immediately adjacent to that of Hyperbuilding-A, which is nestled in the Minato Ward of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. Minato is one of Tokyo’s 23 special wards and is known for being a major business, diplomatic and residential hub. It is heavily urbanised, with approximately 14,000 people per … Read more
THE ESSENCE OF ENSO Ensō, the Zen circle, represents one of the most fundamental principles in Japanese aesthetics and philosophy. Traditionally drawn in a single, fluid brush stroke, it symbolizes: Complete Circle of Life)Main Unifying Theme: Like the Zen concept of ensō (the circle), the building embodies completeness through continuous cycles and perfect imperfection. Team … Read more
SecondMatter challenges architecture’s extractive processes and wasteful material cycles by upcycling Construction Demolition Renovation Waste (CDRW) into structural and non-structural applications. It blends ramming, which compacts granular materials into high-strength forms, with jamming-inspired interlocking of irregular aggregates. Large concrete waste pieces form a reinforced core, wrapped in a rammed mix of fine brick and concrete … Read more
Data Our goal was to create a city within a city, an organism that operates 24/7, where functions overlap and change throughout the day based on residents’ needs. Each of the eight specific neighborhoods has spaces dedicated to changing functions. A key performance indicator (KPI) we used is the occupancy efficiency formula, measuring how effectively spaces are utilized over 24 … Read more
This Project explores how reflective, vernacular materials—such as ceramics—can be utilized in construction to manage infrared radiation and influence microclimates. By reflecting rather than absorbing heat, these materials contribute to passive cooling, reducing urban heat island effects and enhancing thermal comfort. We analyze the physical properties of ceramics, their historical applications in traditional architecture, and … Read more
Project Statement For our Collaborative assignment, we created a Slackbot that sends teams weekly or daily updates on their metric health and an abbreviated summary of the project. Project Context The Data Team was responsible for the management of data flow and organization throughout the process, ensuring other teams could navigate through the dashboard and … Read more
Context How? Where? Workflow Outputs
Abstract Parametric design tools like Grasshopper empower architects to create adaptive and efficient spatial layouts, but their complexity presents a barrier for non-experts. This research proposes a community-driven design tool that leverages Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) and Large Language Models (LLMs) to learn from expert-authored Grasshopper scripts, enabling prompt-based parametric layout design. By encoding design … Read more
ABSTRACT; Decoding Urban Mobility: This project evaluates the impact of AI-driven traffic management versus conventional fixed-timing methods on urban congestion. It analyzes real-time and historical data—including traffic patterns, weather, demographics, and incident reports—from cities like London, Barcelona, and Los Angeles and compares machine learning models (e.g., LSTM, GRU, XGBoost) with traditional techniques. The study identifies … Read more
Collaborative Workflows and Techniques for Façade Design . We explored both internal and external collaboration strategies with all design teams at HYPER A. Our team focused on three key areas: adaptive façades, energy efficiency, and smart architectural systems. To guide our design process, we established clear performance metrics, including Daylight Factor, Panelization strategies, and Energy … Read more
Digital Transformation of Discarded Logs for Structural and Design Applications Re_Shape is a design and innovation project that addresses a major blind spot in the forestry industry: the waste of tree trunks that are curved, bifurcated, or otherwise irregular and therefore excluded from traditional processing systems. These logs are typically downgraded into low-value products like … Read more
When we locate Sants within Barcelona, it appears to be on the city’s edge. However, when considering the metropolitan area as a whole, Sants is actually closer to the center. Historically, Sants was one of the towns surrounding Barcelona until its annexation in 1897. Its agricultural and industrial roots contribute to a unique neighborhood identity—one … Read more
