EleMental Workshop, Damascus University Students

. Aim and Objective

The main objective was to extract the information from the research as input in order to generate a new 3D Element as output, showing the design process applying the new digital skills taught during the workshop.

Aim of the workshop was to focus on Element conditions in nature and architecture as a synthetic expression of elegance, performative efficiency, modulation through differentiation and cultural values.

The ornamental conditions learned through theoretical lessons then experimented as an architectural application at a small scale.

Students worked individually and then after election of best 10 ideas to be fabricated, students were organized in groups of two or three people each.

In the first part of the workshop students started with the basic observation of geometry, starting with natural examples (analyzing patterns and the involved conditions) up to geometry (topology), mathematics and cultural exploitation (from historical examples to the contemporary discourse) as the basis for a fruitful application on an architectural project on a small scale. During this part, the students produced as many examples as possible of 3D small scale Elements on a general surface.

In the second part of the workshop students applied the digital skills learned to further develop an Element condition chosen among the many presented before and started applying it in search of suitable spatial conditions and modulations in order to synthesize a small scale architecture (pavilion, folly, belvedere or others alike).

The final projects were presented (along with a comprehensive explanation of the design process involved) as projection and digital and physical models.

The workshop proceedings and materials published in real time on a blog as well as on architectural magazines; the works also were collected and organized on an exhibition at the AIU”Arab International University.

. Synopsis

The aim of the workshop was to give an introductory understanding of key concepts such as topology, information (in morphogenesis), redundancy and pluripotency as a mean to undisclose performative potential through morphology, from biological and digital development to architectural design, within a general framework of an ecology of design ”ECO Form”.

Participants investigated specific geometric strategies such as those of lightweight and voluptuous bodies: folds, frazzles and plications as a mean for efficiency and performance (structural, movement, thermal). Animation and other techniques were used to tease out differentiations and gradients between key configurations (attractors), as well as exploring the emergence of complexity and effects out of simple starting Elements.