GSS20_BARCELONA – IAAC | Global Summer School 2024

GSS20 BCN BRIEF // RECLAIM MATTER

The future of Construction is at a crossroads. The process of digitization has transformed many market sectors, developing new technology-driven expertise, applications, and services.
Innovative solutions have shaped social habits, economies, education, politics. Nonetheless, all these important transformations have left Construction behind.

According to recent research, Construction is among the least digitised sectors in the world. In the United States, construction comes second to last, and in Europe, it is in the last position on the index (source McKinsey). On the other hand, the current trend of Industry 4.0 promises groundbreaking technologies: robotics, accurate sensors, computational design, AI and cyber-physical systems that could potentially transform the way we design, build and inhabit tomorrow.

The GSS BCN 2020 proposes to explore the design potential and process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials for the construction sector with higher quality and environmental value.
During the two week program, students will learn how to digitally translate, classify and sort a heterogeneous stocks of recycled material that can be up-cycled into a construction project using computer vision, computational design, and robotic fabrication; creating an automated process that adding value not only to a material normally considered as waste but also to the process of transformation.

As a final outcome, a 1:1 scale prototype will be built, implementing these emerging technologies, enhancing new functional and aesthetic construction methods, also representing a societal shift towards more resilient management of material resources towards a new economic model.

STRUCTURE

The GSS workshop provides to its participants both practical and theoretical knowledge. The program is led by expert tutors, combined with lectures by renowned professionals and academics relevant to the GSS BRIEF and GLOBAL AGENDA 2020 to be treated during the course. These will be broadcasted in the different node-cities, all globally connected. Participants will join a global agenda and an international laboratory at their disposal to test their design hypothesis, understanding how design conclusions derived locally can be tested and evolved globally in the different cities where other teams reside.

WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE LAST GSS EDITION IN BARCELONA?

FACULTY

ALDO SOLLAZZO

Aldo Sollazzo is an architect and researcher, an expert in computational design and digital fabrication. Master in Architectonic Design in 2007, Master in Advanced Architecture at IAAC in 2012, Fab Academy diploma in 2014 in the Fab Lab Barcelona, Aldo is currently involved in several projects running in parallel. Since 2011, he is the manager of Noumena, a firm embracing data-driven design, investigating between the boundaries of new digital paradigms and design strategies applied to architecture, robotics and fabrication, through a hands-on and experimental approach.

He is also the founder of Fab Lab Frosinone and Director of Reshape, a digital platform promoting interdisciplinary and collaborative approach, towards the definition of new cutting-edge practices and disruptive ideas in the field of wearable tech and fashion design. Since 2015 he is faculty at IAAC, covering the positions of Director of IAAC Global Summer School, co-Director of the new Master of Robotics and Advanced Construction, and instructor of digital tools.

He is one of the Supernode of Fab Academy, the educational platform founded by Neil Gershenfeld from the MIT’s Center of Bits and Atoms. For the same programme, he is also a local coordinator for Fab Academy Paris.

RODRIGO AGUIRRE

Rodrigo Aguirre is a Nicaraguan architect specialised in parametric tooling, digital fabrication and manufacturing. He obtained his bachelor in architecture at UAM (American University) of Nicaragua and completed a master in Advanced Architecture at the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) in Spain. Rodrigo collaborates with the Institute’s R + D department and is involved in projects relying on advanced form finding and computational methods related to generative design. He is a principal member of the computational faculty and leads workshops internationally.

ARMIN BAKARI

Armin Akbari is an Architect and an AR enthusiast researching about pushing the scope of construction through virtual blueprints. He pursued his Masters in Architecture at Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) in Barcelona in 2016/18. His thesis ‘Cyber-Physical Construction’, focused on AR fabrication strategies for on-site construction, lead him to start developing AR platforms for the Open Source community.
He is currently collaborating with the Advanced Architecture Lab at IAAC where he is also working on HoloFab Project, an app for Holographic fabrication. His research aims to combine different industrial manufacturing techniques with virtual data in physical space to enhance the quality of construction.

RICARDO MAYOR

Ricardo Mayor is a Master in Architecture Superior Technical School of Architecture of Alcalá de Henares in Madrid.

He graduated in 2012, obtaining a prize for his academic results and a further one for his final project. Since then he is one of the four founders of Design of Architectural Territories – DAT Pangea – who was awarded the first prize for the Best Young Architects in Europe for their Sustainable construction by LafargeHolcim Foundation.

His working career has been mainly developed in architectural and engineering offices in Madrid, Ljubljana, Barcelona, Paris, taking part to internationally recognized projects with international architects as Frank Ghery, OMA, Jean Nouvel or Kengo Kuma.

His main research faces themes such as design, fabrication and politics, focusing in particular on social issues to suitable solutions, and he implements them through his professional and academic practice.

LOCATION

The Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) is an international centre for Education, Fabrication and Research dedicated to the development of architecture capable of meeting the worldwide challenges in constructing 21st century habitability. Based in the 22@ district of Barcelona, one of the world’s capitals of architecture and urbanism, as well as the European Capital for Innovation (2014), IAAC is a platform for the exchange of knowledge with researchers, faculty and students from over 60 countries around the world. The Institute develops multidisciplinary programs that explore international urban and territorial phenomena, with a special emphasis on the opportunities that arise from the emergent territories, and on the cultural, economic and social values that architecture can contribute to society today. IAAC has also made its name as a centre of international reference, welcoming students and investigators from different countries among which Australia, the USA, India, Brazil, Russia, Ethiopia, all European countries and many others.

APPLICATIONS

To register to the Global Summer School, participants need to fill their personal details and to upload a Cv in the Application form below. GSS20 dates are from 29th June to 11th of July and applications are open until the the 31st of May 2020.

For more information: [email protected]

APPLY NOW

REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

IAAC GSS is open to creative and innovative people who are interested in fields such as architecture, urban planning, digital fabrication, design, etc., searching for a multidisciplinary experience in an international environment. No previous skills are required, although CAD design, programming and digital fabrication skills are welcome. The official language of the course is English.

Credits

After the course, the participants will have gained theoretical and applicative knowledge about advanced design strategies. They will be familiar with parametric software, data visualization and use of digital machines. The last day of course participants will join a presentation of developed projects reviewed by a renown jury and will receive a Global Summer School Diploma.

Visa

Each participant is responsible to investigate which documents are required via the embassies in their country of origin. The school will provide a confirmation letter regarding the participation to the course, and will assist where possible the visa process.

Fee

An Early Bird fee of 1000€ is available to all applicants who apply before 15th March 2020.
After the 15th March, Applicants fee for Barcelona is 1300€ and includes all material costs needed for the course. No additional registration fee required. Flight tickets, accommodation, food are not included in the fee.

Each participant should bring his/her own computer with the software installed. More details on the software will be given to the participants upon acceptance.