Masterstudio "Inhabitable Skin" at Institut of Buildings and Energy

"I am so honoured to have been invited to teach at Masterstudio with prof. Brian Cody and briliant team at the Institut of Building and Energy (the Graz University of Technology). 
It makes me proud to be a new member of such a creative family. Under the guiding star and main principle "Form Follows Energy", team of Institut of Building and Energy is in constant search for solutions and new formulas in order to defeat global energy crisis."

Igor Mitric Lavovski

Masterstudio INHABITABLE SKIN

INTRO

In the age of information, our everyday is overwhelmed with the “Big Data. How to work with this amount of information?  Can we use this data to write parameters for our architectural projects? How to convert data into mathematical formulas and how to connect results of formulas into the parts of algorithms and then perform final calculations. With the goal to optimize our models? Can we build with the Big Data?

In the time where polluting and increasingly costly energy production is trigger event for wars and destruction the question arises: Is principle “Form Follows Energy” the only true solution? If it is, how to formalize right design process? Where is the link between energy and information? Between the Energy and Form?

1. 1.      FORCES

In first phase of studio project, students will learn the role of local climate and how does it inputs building shape in initial design process. They will learn how to recognize natural forces, how to write them as vectors or numbers, points or curves, and how to build an architectural project as diagram of physical forces.            

Students will investigate how to improve micro climate on existing location. Trough individually developed system or trough evolutionary solvers (EA),  students will evaluate produced forms with the goal to choose the fittest one. “Evolutionary algorithm In Energy Design” is optional way.

The main task for first phase in studio is to convert forces (as sun,wind,rain…) into parameters and rules which build a initial shape ready for simulation in elective course “Advanced Facade Technologies”.

1. 2.      LAYERED TRANSITION

In second phase students will develop multilayered design systems.

Layers performance, individual and/or interconnected, will be evaluated and function of layers will be defined. Question in this phase is how layers unique role (purpose) impacts the whole.   Definition of layers act in building performance is design task.  Students will manifest and parametrize all layers, and adjust layer orientation, position, zoning, time/spatial complexity, function and interconnection. Students will track information with goal to evaluate the performance of whole with layers modification.

At the end of second phase other systems can be also integrated in layers, as ( just imagination triggers) self-cleaning and self-shading systems for exterior oriented layers, drone transportation vs. plugged cells, cellular transportation and bio-filtration of air and water or adaptation to changing environmental demands.

Layers are essential part of our “Inhabitable Skin” project studio.To student imagination and ideas, only sky and energy consumption is limit. This part is crossed with elective course “Advanced Building Systems”.

1. 3.      PROPHECY

In third phase student will send their models into the future. The building will simulate own life cycle. During one year. User traffic frequency, agents flows, energy cost, daylight, ventilation, cooling and heating systems will be in future lived. After simulation, students will call their models  back, analyze it again, optimized it and perform re-design. Re-simulation. Re-Generation. Design will learn, adapt and in best case replicate itself.

This will be done in cooperation with elective courses “Advanced Facade Technologies “and “Advanced Building Systems”.

1. 4.      WORKFLOW

In fourth phase the students will test and develop different workflows and pipelines for 2D and 3D software for their projects.

Our studio use 2D tools with connection to 3D (ArchiCad), 3D modeling tools (Rhino3D,Cinema4D,3DMax..), visual scripting languages (GH3D), surface and mesh optimization tools (ZBRUSH), procedural material authoring (Substance), composition (PSD), painting tools (Krita) and gaming engines (Unreal Engine) for real and virtual visualization.

1. 5.      JUDGMENT DAY

In fifth phase, project will be finished and presented to the jury. Different presentation techniques will  be implemented, from pen and paper, model to virtual reality.

GOAL

After successfully completion of the project, students will gain a basic knowledge of energy optimization in building design process. Converting a physical forces as wind and sun into analytical methods for design objectives, understanding macro and micro climates, working with parameters and information, increasing performance of multilayered buildings, controlling big scale geometry, testing different pipelines for 3d and 2d software, testing presentation techniques, from paper to virtual and managing Big Data are the goals for this year studio project.

Elective courses:
LV 159.805 Advanced Facade Technologies with Renate Teppner
LV 159.806 Advanced Building Systems with Sebastian Sautter

For more information see http://ige.tugraz.at/