Hello
I've just discovered an joined this community. I want to make another post relating to this one. You might find it interesting!
On November 16/17 2025, Jonathan Asher and myself hosted a workshop as part of AAG (content developed with Nuri Miller and Nicolas Senemaud thought neither were able to attend). It was a great experience--unfortunately I wasn't able to attend the conference itself but it is an incredibly collection of thinkers, makers and designers I encourage you to investigate.
AAG
Advances in Architectural Geometry (AAG) is a conference where both theoretical and practical work linked to new geometrical developments is presented. It involves architects, engineers, computer scientists, mathematicians, software and algorithms designers and contractors. We aim at connecting researchers from architectural and engineering practices, academia and industry. AAG has become a reference both in research and in practice and is supported by the direct participation of the most renowned architectural design and engineering offices along with research laboratories.
The symposium is a biennial event. It was held first in 2008 and 2010 in Vienna, 2012 in Paris, 2014 in London, 2016 in Zurich, 2018 in Gothenburg, 2020 in Paris, and 2023 in Stuttgart.
Context / Relevance
Geometry increasingly plays a role in modeling environments and processing sensing information. Modern geometric computing provides a variety of tools for the efficient design, analysis, and manufacturing of complex shapes. Besides descriptive geometry controlling form, algorithmic processes play a crucial role in integrating disciplinary input.
Symposium
November 18/19 saw two days of talks of a range of topics. Full papers are published here.
Here is a selection of topics covered that I think are relevant to the tools we possess. Most of the presenters use grasshopper/Rhino which is notoriously surface/mesh based and has limited access to downstream fabricators without customisation (turning a Rhino model into IFC for example). Through a combination of Visual Scripting, CATIA and Modsim, I believe DS has the potential for inroads in these spaces with Specialist Fabricators in the next year:
| Topic | Description | Examples |
| Graphic Statics | A representation of forces through a structure to assist designers in the production of material-optimised projects because the resulting force diagrams often yield novel structural forms that feature both tension and compression members in equilibrium Potential applications : designing bridges/building structures with structural representations with minimal analysis. | Patscenter building |
| Origami (curved creasing) | Using folded sheet material to produce self-supporting structures. Can be used to inform designs at larger scales with caution Potential relevance : use of thin materials for span structures. Flat material folded/assemble on-site. | |
| Auxetic Materials | Auxetic materials are unique in that, unlike typical materials, when stretched in one direction, auxetic structures simultaneously expand in the transverse direction. Can have multiple stable states. Potential relevance : deployable structures (by slicing sheet material), mechanical connections or expand thermal/kinetic properties. | Heart stints, fabric/fashion materials, safety gear |
| Spatial-Temporal Graphs | Buildings are networks of spaces and elements connected in space and time, which can be enriched with geometric and semantic metadata in the form of Spatial-Temporal Graphs. These provide a lean, machine-readable framework that enables both humans and machines to analyze previously invisible relationships in the built environment, revealing new dependencies and informing and generating sustainable design interventions Potential relevance : Building representation for generative redesign, lightweight option testing, reusing elements of an existing building | |
| Architectural Terracotta | Terracotta, with its low thermal conductivity and high heat storage capacity, is able to capture and hold heat absorbed from sunlight, while radiating it back to the environment more slowly. Potential relevance : Terracotta replacing structural façade systems, design flexibility, thermal customisation | |
| Generative Timber Floor Slabs | Horizontal floor structures in multi-story buildings constitute a large proportion of embodied cost and the majority of total embodied carbon in buildings. Computational design methods and digital fabrication processes can be used to advance the design of slabs. Potential relevance : Solid modelling, generative design, embedded manufacturing processes |
The Workshop : Algorithmic Construction: Generative Design To Digital Manufacturing For Mass Customization
The initial plan was to take the participants through the demonstration project that had been developed with Nuri Miller for AECTech the week before [find link]. However, with no CATIA experience among the participants and an objective to get something cutting/printing that evening, we decided to do the following interactive training instead
Platform Overview : 3D models viewable in the cloud, XGen vs Visual Script, communities, dashboards and file management emphasising differences with Revit as a file-based tools with Grasshopper plugins
CATIA : Opening through the platform, assemblies, solids versus surfaces, Visual Script in the tree, modelling/generative hybrid approach--particularly surface published from one model to the input of a Visual Script in another
Visual Script: working with arrays, surfaces, sharing scripts between participants, User Operators.
The Design Model
The initial context was to be a pavilion in the Milan master model. This shows the capability of the tool to host large, detailed models but also manage referenced links in the tree.
Quite quickly we aligned around a ribbed column canopy connecting to a roof surface with the fins inserted into the base. A design evolved that included a key to restrain the columns
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As the connection to the canopy evolved, we thought we could span a larger surface with notched laser-cut strips thereby having the four columns cross-stabilise without a column-key. This also let us demonstrate how moving the column base points around the model could update the the system while simultaneously coordinating the design of the columns (Jonathan lead) with the base design (Josh lead). The base part, referenced in the column solids.
The base was developed as a Volume using booleans and features like fillet (something Rhino can struggle with). The intent was to distribute this as a powercopy to each column with parameters changing but we ran out of time. In the end, the base was modified to reflect a 3D printed outer shell with concrete infill (one of the participants worked with a similar approach)
The fins were laid out for laser cutting using the Nesting Tools (first time using on the fly)
A test piece was assembled to check tolerances
Then the bases and fins were manufactured printed and cut, respectively.
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Here you see the original key approach with a key then the final one without--we got a little overzealous with the scale! It was at this point we realised it was going to be big...
At this point, the day in the workshop was over. Jonathan and I would return to do the assembly and build a small base for positioning the columns.
The finished assembly! Joints were taped (for expediency. Future iterations we might be more clever). Shadows were an unexpected delight.
Finally, the workshop was presented by Jonathan to the Conference.
Presentation here:
Special thanks to the Waltham lab and the exceptional assistance of Sal and Chin-loo. Oh yes and there was a dinosaur! Made in-house with Solidworks.
