Arch Tracker

Title: International Conference; BioDigital architecture and genetics
Location: ESARQ (UIC), Barcelona
Link out: Click here
Description: In the twenties and thirties of the 20th century, when some architects were disposed systematically to configure modern world, they did it stimulated for a cultural pressure, for a correct adaptation to new times, and fighting for minimum conditions of human existence. On the other hand, today the urgency is bigger. It is about the entire planetary subsistence. The question is not any more a simple caprice, neither an intellectual necessity, neither sensibility for losing less favoured people. Now, the necessity is global, without reservations of classes, races or religions. The whole planet is in front of danger of no-sustainability for all mankind.

By chance, now in this crucial moment, are offered new techniques of an enormous potential: biological techniques and digital techniques. And even fusion of both, in something that can be named biodigital architecture. One that has incorporated the advantages proportioned by the understanding of genetics in both ways, the biological and the digital way, that permit to face with hope some continuity also worthy, but this time a dignity for all The Earth.

Then, as the ones that made efforts to break with the ancient classical tradition to found the new modern tradition, we are in front of the challenge of creating the future tradition of biodigital and genetics. For this is necessary that people work on three key elements: research, teaching and profession. This is exactly what we have been doing in Barcelona from 2000, with the Genetic Architecture Research Group and Ph.D. Programme, with the Biodigital Architecture Master’s Degree and with the Genetic Architectures Office. There we learn & teach, we make research and we design: Knowing that there are sufficient differential parameters to predict a complete age’s change. Today, after the first decade of our new Century, it is time to explain, to check, to discuss, fascinations, inspirations, experiences, that the graduates of these Research Group, Master’s Degree and Architecture Office have done in the developing of this biodigital architecture and genetics, up to now.

Alberto T. Estévez
Conference Chair
Start Date: 2011-05-30
End Date: 2011-06-05

Project: House F
Architects: RTA-Office
Santiago Parramón
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Project area: 500 sqm
Project year: 2009
Photography: Aitor Ortiz

Leer el resto de esta entrada »

Project: House C
Architect: RTA-Office
           Santiago Parramón
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Project Date: 2009
Photography: Courtesy RTA-Office

Leer el resto de esta entrada »

Project: House B
Architect: RTA-Office
            Santiago Parramón
Location: Matadepera, Barcelona, Spain
Year: 2005

Leer el resto de esta entrada »

The World Architecture Festival took place in Barcelona, Spain last week. Part of the annual festival program is the announcement of the WAF Award Winners. This year the title of World Building of the Year went to the MAXXI Museun in Rome, Zaha Hadid, which also won the 2010 Stirling Prize this year. After the break all the 2010 award winners.

Leer el resto de esta entrada »

Project: Workspace in a former coal bunker
Architect: Jordi Badia
Collaborators: Marcos Catalán, Jordi Framis, Mariona Guàrdia, Jaime Batlle
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Structure: Eduard Doce, architect
Services: Consulting Lluís Duart
Contractor: Conplapar, SL
Project year: 2004
Construction year: 2007
Photographs: Eugeni Pons

Leer el resto de esta entrada »

Project: La Llotja Theatre and Conference Centre
Author: Mecanoo Architects
Local architect: labb arquitectura, Barcelona
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Design: 2004-2005
Execution: 2006-2010
Client: Centre de Negocis i de Convencions S.A., Lleida, Spain; competition Municipality of Lleida
Contractor: Dragados, Barcelona
Structural engineer: ABT bv, Delft; BOMA, Barcelona
Advisor acoustics: Peutz b.v., Zoetermeer; Higini Arau, Barcelona
Electrical and Mecanical engineer: Deerns, Rijswijk; Einesa, Lleida
Technical architect: Ardevols S.L, Barcelona
Building cost consultant: Basalt Nieuwegein; Ardevols S.L. Barcelona
Fire safety consultant: Einesa, Lleida
Building costs incl. installations: € 35,000,000 (2006)
Photography: Christian Richters & La Fotografica

Leer el resto de esta entrada »

IaaC is pleased to invite you to it’s public lecture “Approaching Architectures in Sao Paulo – Choosing a Sustainable City Redevelopment Model” given by Carlos Leite
Friday, January 29th. 2010
Free Entrance
IaaC Conference Hall, 19:30hrs
Pujades 102, baixos. Poble Nou

Carlos Leite
Principal of Leite+Brooke Arquitetos Urbanistos
Founder of CIC_SP: City Information Center, Sao Paulo [NGO]

Carlos Leite is an Architect and Urbanist with a Master and PhD in Urban Design from the University of Sao Paulo and a Posdoc from California Polytechnic University where he was a professor. He is a principal at Leite+Brooke Arquitetos Urbanistos in Sao Paulo. He also works as a Sustainable Development and Design consultant with public planning agencies, private developers and NGOs.

He is a professor at the School of Architecture, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Sao Paulo and has been a visiting professor and lecturer at different schools in California, Canada and the Netherlands. His professional focus is to face new challenges abroad through academia and consultancy – from his broad and multidisciplinary achieved knowledge in Brazil and abroad in the last 15 years (more than 40 cities visited).

IaaC is pleased to invite you to it´s public Lecture “The Specialist Modelling Group at Foster+Partners : A case study” by Prof. Xavier De Kestelier

Thursday, January 14th. 2010
Free Entrance
IaaC Conference Hall, 19:30hrs
Pujades 102, baixos. Poble Nou

Prof. Xavier De Kestelier
Associate Partner at Foster+Partners
Xavier De Kestelier was educated in Belgium and the United Kingdom and holds an MSc in Urban Design from The Bartlett School of Architecture. Since 2002, he has been part of the Specialist Modelling Group at Foster+Partners. In this position he has worked on a broad range of projects such as Beijing Airport, Yacht Plus BoatFleet, MASDAR and Spaceport. Besides this he is also responsible for new rapid prototyping and manufacturing developments at Foster+Partners. In 2008 he became Associate Partner at Foster+Partners

His area of research is the application of parametric software to solve complex geometry, the redefinition of the role of architects as a designer within the digital environment, and the application of digital fabrication and rapid manufacturing techniques in architecture. He has been a critic and lecturer at a wide range of universities and conferences:  Smartgeometry, Berlage, Architectural Association, MIT, The Royal Institution, ACADIA, Bridges. Since 2006, he has been a professor at the University of Gent, where he heads the education and research in digital design in architecture. He is also Adjunct Professor and studio master at the Syracuse University in London.

Project: The Rambed House
Author: Quim Larrea
Katherine Bedwell
Location: Barcelona, España
Photography: Rafael Vargas, Albert Font

Leer el resto de esta entrada »

IaaC is pleased to invite you to the open lecture of Theodore Spyropoulos.
Friday 24th of April.
19:30h
IaaC Main Hall
C/ Pujades 102, Poble Nou

`Systemic Play`
Theodore Spyropoulos / Minimaforms

Theodore Spyropoulos co-directs the Architectural Association Design Research Lab [DRL] (London). He directs the experimental architecture and design studio Minimaforms with Stephen Spyropoulos. He is a visiting Research Fellow at MIT since 2006 and curates the AA New Media Research initiative. He has taught in the graduate schools of the University of Pennsylvania and the Royal College of Art. He has studied at the AA, Bartlett School of Architecture and the New Jersey Institute of Technology graduating cum laude. He has worked as a project architect for the offices of Peter Eisenman and Zaha Hadid Architects.

The lecture will examine role of experimentation in architecture and design through the work of Minimaforms and the AADRL.