SmartGeometry 2010 report

Starting out as a forum to discuss computational and parametric approaches to design, SmartGeometry now touches all aspects of architecture and construction from concept all the way to fabrication. Greg reports from the recent event, held in Barcelona.

Mark Burry, executive architect and researcher of the Sagrada Familia, talking about the latest updates to his project on home soil. Image courtesy of Bentley Systems.

SmartGeometry is one of the most important conferences in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering Construction) calendar. It brings together architects, engineers, programmers and mathematicians from practice, education and research, all of which have a shared interest in developing new computational and parametric approaches to design. There is a core focus on technology that is already in use or in development, but it also offers a chance for brand new ideas to be discussed and debated, some of which are really quite ‘out there’, so to speak.

Now in its seventh year, SmartGeometry has become a truly global event. Previously held in San Francisco, Munich, New York and Cambridge (Ontario and UK) the location for this year’s gathering could not have been more inspirational. Barcelona is the birthplace of Gaudi, who through his many innovative approaches to design and structure was one of the modern pioneers of complex geometry.

Of course, the city is also home to his most famous construction site, the Sagrada Familia and Gaudi’s masterpiece is a regular topic of conversation at the event, with the cathedral’s executive architect and researcher, Mark Burry, updating attendees on the latest progress and innovations in design and fabrication. For those lucky enough to stay on after the event, the organisers also arranged a private behind the scenes tour of the cathedral.

While the original SmartGeometry events concentrated largely on form and structure, over the years the underlying theme has changed to help drive forward other areas of architecture and construction. The last couple of events have focused on the hot topics of sustainability and environmental design, but this year it was the turn of fabrication. The idea was to help attendees engage directly with the fabrication process through design, building and testing of working prototypes.

The event comprises two conference days: a shop talk day, which sets up the stage for panel discussions on a variety of technical issues, plus a symposium day which features presentations on the theory and practice of computational and parametric design approaches. Alongside this, there is the workshop, the format of which was freshened up this year by moving beyond the confines of a computer and challenging attendees to produce ‘working prototypes’ to help solve a variety of design and fabrication problems. This took place in the industrial space of the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalunia (IaaC), while the main conference was held at the somewhat more refined environs of the Palau de la Música Catalana.

New digital manufacturing

One of the major themes at SmartGeometry 2010 was that of adapting additive manufacturing for construction. Also known as 3D printing or rapid prototyping, the additive manufacturing process typically builds 3D models layer by layer using a variety of technologies.

In the AEC sector, 3D printing is used widely for architectural model making, but with new processes and larger scale machines there are many potential new applications. These include making complex forms that could not be manufactured by conventional means, producing bespoke architectural components, or even printing an entire building.

There are currently many different approaches to additive manufacturing in AEC. Materialise, a company better known for making bespoke components for the automotive sector is already making commercial architectural components with its mammoth Stereolithography machines. More for interior design than actual architecture it makes production quality products from limited edition furniture to customised lighting fittings for hotels.

Interestingly, Materialise said that the only thing that was stopping it making even bigger machines was demand. One would expect that the only thing stopping demand was cost, which is still high for virtually all 3D printing technologies.

Marta Malé-Alemany from the Institute for advanced architecture of Catalonia (IaaC) made the very valid point that adapting digital fabrication processes from other industries may not be the best approach in order for digital fabrication to succeed. Instead, she said that technology needed to be developed specifically for construction, a view shared by many other presenters at the event.

Ms Malé-Alemany went on to show some of the fantastic work her students at the Architectural Association Design Research Laboratory (AADRL), London, have undertaken in this field. One involved a process called contour crafting where a paste-like material is deposited in layers in much the same way a chef applies icing to a cake with a pastry bag. She explained how her students hacked into a CNC milling machine, attached a pump with clay-like material and carried out a series of experiments to investigate the types of geometries that could be built with this technique. They then started to develop architecture based on the process.

Domes were found to be more stable when they had sinusoidal walls and the students realised that by building envelopes within envelopes and spaces within spaces entire buildings could be constructed. Algorithms were then created to help generate actual architectural designs.

The research project has even progressed to the stage of investigating how to develop the mechanics of machines to work on site, with huge robotic arms building entire communities. All of this was illustrated with some amazing videos that simulated the whole process.

Another team looked into the use of phase changing materials to build structures, specifically the use of wax-like materials that would solidify in water. Delivering wax underwater at pressure through air nozzles the initial results were extremely erratic. However, by experimenting with different nozzle sizes and shapes, pressures and material makeup and viscosity more control was achieved. The future vision for this technology was a machine called robo(a)t, swarms of which float on the surface of the ocean and create new inhabitations and environments to promote underwater ecologies.

Marta Malé-Alemany from the Institute for advanced architecture of Catalonia (IaaC), believes that adapting digital fabrication processes from other industries may not be the best approach in order for digital fabrication to succeed. Image courtesy of Bentley Systems.