Classes

Dates: 4 Mondays from 2 to 6pm, starting January 9th.

Course Overview
In the last decade, computational design paired with digital fabrication technologies have fostered a radical shift from traditional centralized artificial lighting sources towards decentralized systems (e.g. light emitting surfaces). This shift presents a unique design opportunity to further explore the relationship between architecture and light, which potentially leads to a novel perception of space. Exploring such designs, however, poses the challenge of navigating the design opportunities situated at the intersection between current precise means of representation/production and the beauty of irregular naturally grown materials (e.g. wood panels). To address this problem, the workshop introduces data-physicalization, as design method to assist such intricate exploration endeavor that potentially results into space and fabrication informed distributed lighting systems.

Intended Learning Outcomes
In this four week course you will develop your skills in electronic circuitry, in microprocessor and scripting interface with parametric modeling. These skills are applicable towards future research in robotics, kinetic modeling, and VR/ AR. Uniquely we will be studying these methodologies in how they are affected by/ altered/ enhanced natural materials and conversely how these digital/ computation methodologies can shape natural systems. Here instruction will be given by leading researchers and experts from the screen printing industry. Participants will come away with a deeper knowledge and ability of the methodologies and tools used as well as understand conceptually the contemporary and relevant topic of intersecting physical and computational systems. 
 
Short Sessions Summary — full detailed handouts will be provided at each session

• Session 1 (January 9th, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm) — Contextualization and Conceptualization
  This first session introduces the context of the workshop, which is data-physicalization as emerging design method to enable the digital manufacturing of distributed lighting systems. Additionally, it serves to introduce the design brief which will be incrementally developed throughout the four sessions. The outcome will be a concept, which will evolve throughout the next three sessions.
• Session 2 (January 16th, from 2:00pm to 6:00pm) — Design Space Definition
  This second session is focused on embedding the involved constraints (spatial, material and fabrication) into a design explorer.
• An optional morning session will introduce the CAD agnostic COMPAS framework developed at the NCCR Digital Fabrication, ETH Zurich.
• Session 3 (January 23th, 4:00pm to 6:00pm) — Hands-on Meeting
  This third session serves to refine the concept and solving implementation issues.
• Session 4 (January 30, 2:00pm to 6:00pm) – Final Concept Sharing
  This last session consists of presenting and discussing the developed concept.

Optional Gatherings will be offered on Fridays to refine concepts and solve computational design and prototyping issues.
 
Assessment
The workshop will not be graded, however, if you are interested in achieving a relevant outcome, for example an entry for your C.V. or an object, we encourage you to attend all sessions, actively participate in discussions, present and document your work, as well as prototype your concept.

If you are interested, please let us know and we will confirm your enrollment asap.

Feel free to reach out if it needs further clarification or you have suggestions.
 

This workshop introduces students to the process of biocementing with microbes. Today, the production of cement for concrete accounts for 8% of global CO2 emissions. Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) is a promising biocement alternative. The process makes use of microbes to catalyze calcium carbonate crystals that can bind aggregate together.
In this workshop, you will learn lab protocols for using the bacteria to biocement aggregate including cultivating the microbe, preparing solutions to induce crystal formation, and biocementing loose aggregate. We will test different experimental parameters to characterize and optimize the process as well as 3d printing custom designs to make your own fun biocemented sample!

Contact instructor to sign up.

This is a 5-day design workshop that focuses on designing board games. It introduces how board games help raise awareness, propose interventions, and resist social and cultural issues through their playfulness. Participants will play, discuss and design board games in groups. At the end of the workshop, every participant will leave the room with an understanding of basic board game design logic, how to incorporate social and cultural elements into the design, and, more importantly, a board game prototype in hand!

We highly encourage you to work in groups in this workshop!

Limited to 15, thus sign up required at https://forms.gle/DbsNRbyG5WnR2fMN8. Please contact Doris Duanmu with any questions. 

Materials fee of no more than $30.

This workshop is a study on the prolonged human damage incurred by construction workers building the things we design. We will be looking towards the relationship between architects and the folk who build our proposals and how our choices directly affect their long-term physical health. This understanding will be developed through studying three common construction materials (timber, steel, and concrete), the current methods we use to construct, and how those methods to materials over time break down the body. This workshop will push us to consider new means of construction and sequencing to care for the long-term health of the makers of our built environment.

Students should contact instructor by January 1, 2023 to sign-up (and add any specific topics within the framework they’d be interested in exploring).

In an era of expanding climatic concerns, cities are facing pressures to plan and implement ways to alleviate the consequences of heat exposure. Rapidly increasing temperatures and heat waves are becoming more prevalent worldwide, putting strain on city inhabitants and resources. In the US alone, the frequency of heat waves has increased from an average of two heat waves per year during the 1960s to six per year during the 2010s and 2020s. In more vulnerable contexts, rapid urbanization will amplify the projected air temperature change, resulting in increasingly warming conditions in dense urban settings. At the core of this issue is an alteration of microclimate conditions, an increased use of cooling energy in buildings and in its most extreme form, a threat to occupant health and mortality. The climate imperative hence has drawn focus to the built environment, as it is particularly susceptible to those changes and in turn has a strong impact on urban heat flows in both indoor and outdoor environments. The challenge then becomes to conceptualize new approaches to measure the effect of heightening heat levels and formulate integrated solutions that are sensitive to the scales of both indoor and outdoor environments. 

This class explores the linkages (under the lens of measurements and solutions) between scales, from the component, to the building and the urban level. Expanding the system boundary is key to arriving at more holistic outcomes that are rooted in finding long-term resilient strategies. The contents presented in this course will provide students the necessary tools to tackle such questions as:

• What data can be made available to help building practitioners and urban planners develop more effective solutions?
• How do we define thermal comfort and how does that inform the strategies we formulate to reach thermally resilient design?
• In light of the expectation of space cooling demand to triple by 2050, how can we design buildings and urban environments that lessen the reliability on active cooling modes?.
• How do we build climate-resilient cities with minimal material impact? What are the compromises between urbanization and low-energy urban cooling strategies?

Course Format: 

Introduction to the indoor and outdoor implications of heat in the built environment will be covered. Students develop the first intuition for the multi-faceted aspects of the problem and critically analyze heat assessment methods and strategies for intervention. During morning sessions, a series of lectures and concept-based short discussions strengthen the engagement with each of the four main topics presented in a 4-step framework (Designing across scales, Leveraging data, Measuring impact and Framing action). In the afternoon, a combination of hands-on group exercises and discussions present the technical challenges of assessing the impact of heat at each scale and the formulation of design solutions.
 

Research and project activities, which cover the range represented by the various research interests and projects in the department. Students who wish a letter grade option for their work must register for 4.URG.

Research and project activities, which cover the range represented by the various research interests and projects in the Department.

Program of thesis research leading to the writing of an SB thesis. Intended for seniors. Twelve units recommended.

Program of research and writing of thesis; to be arranged by the student with supervising committee. 

During this workshop participants will learn about the design, engineering, and fabrication of rope structures in the work of MIT Distinguished Visiting Artist, Janet Echelman. They will then explore the design and fabrication of tensioned networks through physical modeling and computational tools. First they will individually explore small scale structures and then they will collaboratively produce an architectural scale rope structure.

Midway through the week there will be a session teaching the basics of rope splicing led by structural engineer, Nicole Wang, who has deep expertise in the engineering of Janet Echelman’s sculptures. This session will provide a foundation for the final stage of the workshop where a room scale structure will be collaboratively fabricated using spliced connections.
Participants will need a laptop and Rhino 7 installed on their computer prior to the workshop to work with the design tool.

Space and materials are limited so registration is required. Please contact aburke3@mit.edu if you have any questions.
 

Fabrication workshop in madrid ensamble fabrica. We will produce a mineral composite envelope and build a full-scale prototype.

Selection of thesis topic, definition of method of approach, and preparation of thesis proposal. Independent study supplemented by individual conference with faculty.

Selection of thesis topic, definition of method of approach, and preparation of thesis proposal. Independent study supplemented by individual conference with faculty.

Introduces foundational texts in contemporary theory and criticism at the intersection of art, culture, and technology. Through presentations and discussions, students explore the necessary methodological perspectives required of an interdisciplinary approach to artistic practices. Subject spans fall and IAP terms.

Students in teams accepted to the MITdesignX accelerator begin work on their ventures in this intense two-week bootcamp. Participants identify the needs and problems that demonstrate the demand for their innovative technology, policy, products, and/or services. They research and investigate various markets and stakeholders pertinent to their ventures, and begin to test their ideas and thesis in real-world interviews and interactions. Subject presented in workshop format, giving teams the chance to jump-start their ventures together with a cohort of people working on ideas that span the realm of design, planning real estate, and the human environment. 
 

Practical experience through summer and January IAP internships secured by the student in the field of architecture, urbanism, digital design, art, or building technology. Before registering for this subject, students must have an offer from the organization and complete the Department of Architecture application with their advisor's signature. Upon completion of the internship, students must submit an evaluation form available from the departmental academic office. Students are limited to a total of three approved experiences.

Provides the material system knowledge and fabrication process skills to successfully engage with all areas of the shop, from precision handwork to multi-axis computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining. Progresses through a series of basic exercises that introduce the material and workflow, concluding with more complex problems that explore opportunities and issues specific to architecture.

Practical experience through summer and January IAP internships secured by the student in the field of architecture, urbanism, digital design, art, or building technology. Before registering for this subject, students must have an offer from a company or organization and complete the Department of Architecture application signed by the advisor. Upon completion of the internship, students must submit an evaluation form available from the departmental academic office. Students are limited to a total of three approved experiences. 

Introduces fundamental design principles as a way to demystify design and provide a basic introduction to all aspects of the process. Stimulates creativity, abstract thinking, representation, iteration, and design development. Equips students with skills to have more effective communication with designers, and develops their ability to apply the foundations of design to any discipline.

Note: Class ends at 4 pm on Fridays.