Experimental ARCHITECTURE
x AUGMENTED ROBOTIC ASSEMBLY

SDU CREATE SUMMER SCHOOL 2023

SCHOOL FOCUS

Wood architecture is seen as the most promising “tool” for the decarbonization of our built environment. Extending the carbon sink from natural to urban forests is a key towards a more sustainable construction industry. Data-driven design, simulation and construction workflows enable new ways of building with wood and provide possibilities to conceive circularity of both materials and data flows within a building’s life cycle.

The Summer School focuses on exploring computational design strategies and automated robotic construction processes for producing 1:1 scale prototypes that aim at advancing wood architecture. Several concepts will be introduced such as reconfigurable tectonics, data-driven design and cyber-physical construction workflows.

Within an iterative design-make approach, we will experiment with various structural designs of reconfigurable timber frames assembled through human-robot collaboration in Extended Reality (XR). The school outcomes will include digital designs and physical prototypes where tectonics/construction/data are investigated by taking full advantage of the potential given by the use of augmented robotic techniques.

AUGMENTED ROBOTIC ASSEMBLY

HARDWARE - augmented robotic assembly

The Summer School will be based on the use of collaborative robots and Augmented Reality (AR) for the assembly of reconfigurable timber frames. Complementary digital and analogue tools for conceptualization and prototyping may be used as necessary to experiment with a range of tectonic solutions.

SOFTWARE - 3D MODELLING AND SIMULATION

No computational design experience is strictly necessary, but the basics of 3D modelling are warmly recommended. The main software utilized will be Rhinoceros + Grasshopper, however, integrations with other software will be possible.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

THE AIM OF THIS COURSE IS TO PROVIDE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT:

+ The emerging digital construction technologies, such as collaborative robotics and AR, their characteristics, possibilities and limitations

+ The potential enabled by the use of digital fabrication and robotic technologies in the context of design and construction

+ Computational tools for design, engineering and fabrication that allow the integration of material, manufacturing, and performance

PARTICIPANTS ARE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE FOLLOWING SKILLS:

+ Design through visual programming and parametric modelling

+ Use digital tools for early-stage analysis and optimization of material, geometrical and mechanical performance within the design process

+ Manufacture experimental construction systems through digital fabrication processes

+ Fabricate and build full-scale prototypes with the aid of extended reality tools

THROUGH THIS COURSE, STUDENTS GAIN THE COMPETENCIES TO:

+ Evaluate the possible uses of various digital fabrication techniques in the exploration of new design solutions for architectural systems and complex structures

+ Involve the use of computational workflows to manage the process from design to fabrication of custom construction systems

Subscription and Fees

The course is open to professionals and students at Bachelor, Master, and PhD level from Architecture, Design, Engineering, and related fields. This is a two weeks full-time intensive experience held in person (not online), that allows the students to be immersed in the research environment, develop and apply their skills in computational design and digital fabrication and push their knowledge to a new level.

The course is 5 ECTS credits. Places are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis to a maximum of 20 students.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 1st MAY 2023 through the Online Application System.

FEES VARY ACCORDING TO YOUR SCHOOL OF ORIGIN:

+ Exchange Students from Danish institutions and from SDU International Partner Universities - No Fees

+ EU Participants (non-partner institutions) - 570 € 

+ Non-EU Participants (non-partner institutions) - 1160 €

Participants in the Summer School are offered accommodation at a student-friendly rate.  You can find more information on the fee and accommodation here.

INFORMATION AND CONTACTS 

For information about the general organization of the SDU International Summer School 2023, visit this page.

For questions related to the program, qualifications, or research topic (for PhD Students) please contact Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roberto Naboni via email: ron@iti.sdu.dk.

For questions about subscription and administrative matters, please contact summerschool@sdu.dk.