COMPONENT SYSTEMS II, Seminar in Technology and Special Topics in Construction,
Cornell University, AAP
Spring 2009, Department of Architecture
Instructor: Dana Čupková; Technology Consultants: William Jewell, Francis C. Moon, Kevin Pratt
Attempts to use prefabrication in architecture to realize a Fordist model of production resulting in the seamless manufacture of human environments have failed. The industrial revolution succeeded in lowering the value of skilled human labor, thus limiting areas of specialization. Consequently the architectural profession moved away from a focus on the craft of building towards the objectification of architecture as an easily distributable commodity. The efficiency of the industrial paradigm created an economical model of endless repetition enabled by semi-automated construction methods, resulting in a lack of qualitative specificity and variation in building design. The failure of prefabrication lies primarily in its resistance to an adaptive response to various geographical, topological and climactic variables inherent in the specificity of site. This seminar examines these parameters for such variability through the integration of contemporary industrial processes incorporated directly into design methodology. Merging the capabilities of parametric design tools with digitally controlled fabrication - in collaboration with a local prototype fabricator, Incodema - students designed, optimized and constructed prototypes. Designed in consultation with Cornell engineering faculty, this work is motivated by the belief that advances in technology and building systems can positively underpin a creative generative process of architectural design and consequently affect the quality of the built environment on multiple scales. For more details please visit Adaptive Component Systems Blog.
Spring 2009, Department of Architecture
Instructor: Dana Čupková; Technology Consultants: William Jewell, Francis C. Moon, Kevin Pratt
Attempts to use prefabrication in architecture to realize a Fordist model of production resulting in the seamless manufacture of human environments have failed. The industrial revolution succeeded in lowering the value of skilled human labor, thus limiting areas of specialization. Consequently the architectural profession moved away from a focus on the craft of building towards the objectification of architecture as an easily distributable commodity. The efficiency of the industrial paradigm created an economical model of endless repetition enabled by semi-automated construction methods, resulting in a lack of qualitative specificity and variation in building design. The failure of prefabrication lies primarily in its resistance to an adaptive response to various geographical, topological and climactic variables inherent in the specificity of site. This seminar examines these parameters for such variability through the integration of contemporary industrial processes incorporated directly into design methodology. Merging the capabilities of parametric design tools with digitally controlled fabrication - in collaboration with a local prototype fabricator, Incodema - students designed, optimized and constructed prototypes. Designed in consultation with Cornell engineering faculty, this work is motivated by the belief that advances in technology and building systems can positively underpin a creative generative process of architectural design and consequently affect the quality of the built environment on multiple scales. For more details please visit Adaptive Component Systems Blog.