IAAC Workshop led by the Professorship of Digital Fabrication | Technical University of Munich Faculty: Begüm Saral, Avishek Das and Pit Siebenaler Design Goals and Process When designing with the bricks, we began looking at their imperfections. We thought about using and exposing these defects as part of the material’s architectural expression. The idea focused … Read more
ESTADO DEL ARTE Inspired by the movement of water and the ripples created by raindrops, our design replicates these natural patterns in its structure. The goal was to create a smooth, continuous surface where elements flow into each other without visible connections, reflecting the fluidity and harmony found in nature. DESIGN EXPLANATION FABRICATION METHODOLOGY ASSEMBLY … Read more
Case study of a 3D printed project Site Organization The site plan was developed to support a continuous and efficient design-to-production workflow, integrating material preparation, digital control, and on-site fabrication into a single coordinated system. The spatial organization follows a clear operational sequence, from raw material handling to final deposition, reducing unnecessary movement, interruptions, and … Read more
CONCEPT Double-Skin Façade STRATEGY TO CURVE CURVE ITERATIONS FINAL DESIGN THERMAL SIMULATIONS LOAD APPLICATIONS ROBOTIC FABRICATION Layer Height – 2.0 Clay thickness – 10mm Pressure – 3.95 Nozzle Diameter – 6mm FINAL BLOCK FABRICATION FRAME ASSEMBLY Final Assembly
This workshop explored robotic trencadís through a pick and place system. Broken tiles were scanned and organized using a Grasshopper ruleset inspired by traditional weaving logics. Squares with 90 degree corners, straight edges, and alternating colors structured the design. A looping algorithm selected tiles from the dataset and placed them without repetition, allowing the robot … Read more
Robotic Brickwork Disassembly & Reassembly Enabled by Spatial Artificial Intelligence In this blog post, we’re sharing the project we built during the IAAC 2026 Workshop 2.2 with the Augmented Fabrication Lab. Our main goal was to move beyond just designing on a computer and actually work with robots and smart sensors in the real world. … Read more
This project explores a robotic system that translates digital vision into physical matter through the constraint of continuity. Rather than behaving like a conventional plotter that freely lifts and re-positions its pen, the system confronts a more complex challenge: it must interpret image topology and compute a path that allows the entire drawing to be … Read more
Computational Workflows at the Sagrada Família The Sagrada Família in Barcelona is one of the most complex and long-running architectural projects in the world. Begun in 1882 and still under construction today, the basilica sits at the intersection of historical heritage, evolving design intent, and contemporary digital technology. To understand how digital tools support such … Read more
Robotic Disassembly & Reassembly with Spatial AI Abstract The project explores a circular construction workflow that integrates robotic systems with Spatial AI to automate the disassembly and reassembly of brick structures. Utilizing a Gemini Vision-Language Model (VLM) pipeline, the system performs autonomous material evaluation, identifying surface damages such as chipping, spalling, and staining, as well … Read more
Fa(ça)de explores robotic clay fabrication as a method for producing expressive, materially efficient façade modules. Starting from a 2D patterned surface, the project develops a parametric workflow that transforms mesh-based geometries into 3D printed clay elements with controlled relief, wave amplitude, and module rotation. Through iterative prototyping, the design responds to fabrication limits such as … Read more
Our concept is about designing a pavilion that works with the wind instead of against it. We wanted to create a space that feels light, open, and alive a structure that shows movement even when it stands still. We see wind not just as a natural force, but as something that shapes space. The pavilion … Read more
Designed for the IAAC rooftop, this pavilion merges computational design with advanced robotic fabrication. The geometry originates in Grasshopper, where a basic mesh is transformed into an optimized vault using Kangaroo’s physics-based dynamic relaxation. A reciprocal frame pattern is then applied, translating the continuous shell into short, mutually supporting timber pieces. Because every interlocking element … Read more
Inspirations Chill.Point is a lightweight timber and fabric pavilion designed for Plaça Universitat, creating a shaded urban pause within the city. Inspired by exposed timber frames and tensile scaffold structures, it combines structural clarity with soft, breathable enclosure. Using computational and parametric design tools, the pavilion responds to sun, wind, and pedestrian flow, optimizing geometry, … Read more
Our project for the Large-Scale 3D Printing with Biomaterials workshop focuses on the transition from conventional, high-emission construction to a circular, bio-based architectural model. Utilizing a 6-axis robotic arm, we have developed an acoustic envelope system composed of a cork-based bio-composite sourced from recycled stoppers. The research prioritizes a “File-to-Factory” workflow where computational geometry is … Read more
– Vision 2025/2026 3D printing is increasingly entering the construction industry, with many examples of printed houses and buildings already realised. Its appeal lies in clear advantages: automation, speed, reduced material use, and minimal waste, all of which lower construction costs. Beyond efficiency, however, 3D printing offers architects significant design freedom, enabling an architecture that … Read more
