TOOLS

We develop and use digital tools for analysis, design, communication, and education. Our tools harness data and technology both critically and productively. These tools address the analytical, generative, simulation, visualisation and communication domains of design processes.

We develop and use digital tools for analysis, design, communication, and education. Our tools harness data and technology both critically and productively. These tools address the analytical, generative, simulation, visualisation and communication domains of design processes. With respect to the quick generation of urban design alternatives, parametric digital design support tools such as Processing, Grasshopper for Rhino 3D and ESRI CityEngine are used. These require the explicit statement of design intents to create the design-determining rule sets. The use of tools allows us to think of solution spaces instead of focusing on one seemingly optimised solution, and further that the digital tools can help to visualise those and evaluate them transparently. This approach requires standardised input data to produce results. Design domains potentially contribute to Semantic Urban Elements via unified protocols and semantic web technologies.

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Digital Design & Representation

Digital Design and Representation stand at the core of the education of architects and urban designers. Due to the proliferation of computers, the increasing computer literacy amongst incoming students and the fundamental shift in the profession towards the digital, digital design and representation needs to be re-assessed all together.

Updating Semper

This seminar geared at fashion design students combined critique of style theory with tectonic design experimentation. Reversing Gottfried Semper’s style argument wherein fashion holds tectonic principles (Bekleidungstheory), architectural theory and structural evaluation are put to use to describe style in fashion design.

Urban Oman Research

The research project “Towards Sustainable Patterns of Urbanization” founded by The Research Council Oman (TRC) has lead to various collaborations with other international academic institutions. As co-investigator on the project in Oman, I have been coordinating these exchanges and channeling them into significant contributions to the larger research project while providing the students with academic frame-work, access and exposure.