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.
 

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).

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.
 

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

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.

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

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.

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.