Symposium Digital Fabrication - a State of Art

The aim of this symposium is to set a state of the art of digital fabrication in architecture and similar areas such as design, fine arts and construction.

Through the fusion of architecture, computing and manufacturing the field of research and the conceptual possibilities of materialization are enlarged, radically transforming the traditional approaches to the architectural issues.

We seek to challenge the participants in this symposium to explore how computing can improve the design and performance of architecture, how the experience and perception of space can be enriched through the integration of emerging technologies in architecture, how the shape can be generated parametrically and evolve and, above all, how to take advantage of digital modelling to produce differentiated physical objects.

Digital manufacturing is still poorly understood and used by architects in Portugal, with only a reduced number of researchers involved. In this context, it is intended that the symposium will be widely disseminated in society in general and in architecture, fine arts, engineering and construction specialized audience in order to disclose the potential of this approach to the architectural object. The audience of this symposium should be varied: designers, researchers, students, technicians, businesses and industries in the areas of architecture, engineering and design.

Moreover, the presence of some of the most respected international experts in the field of manufacturing and digital media will appeal to the international scientific community.

Workshop:

Digital Explorations > Material Realities

This workshop will provide to a broad audience (students, professionals and non professionals) the opportunity to experiment and try new methods of approaching the issues outlined in the conference cycle.
The workshop will take 7.5 hours and it is composed of two modules. In the first module parametric modeling techniques with the use of CAD-CAM systems will be exposed. In the second module rapid-prototyping techniques will be experimented and applied to real construction materials. The aim of the workshop is to apply digital manufacturing techniques through the production by laser cutting or milling machine in order to prepare a 3D solid model.

To participate in this workshop we recommend some knowledge of 3D modeling, preferably with Rhinoceros.

Participants should bring your own personal notebooks with the following software: Rhino + Grasshopper.