EXHIBITION / YOUNG ITALIAN ARCHITECTS, ROME

Opensystems will take part of the Young Italian Architects 2013 exhibit in Rome. The show is curated by AIAC (Italian Association Architecture and Critic) and presS/Tletter.
On April 19th, 16.00 at La Casa dell'Architettura - Piazza Manfredo Fanti 47 Rome - AIAC the Italian Association of Architecture and Critica_ presS / Tletter will organize a brainstorm with the best 20 studios participating in Young Italian Architects, 2012: the competition aimed at identifying project ideas of young Italian architects who have distinguished themselves for their research, innovation and the reading of contemporary reality.
Each practice selected for the show will be presented through the use of three words that sum up the poetic and conceptual approach to architectural design.
At 19.30, the brainstorming session will be followed by the opening reception of the exhibition Young Italian Architects 2012 at 14_lo Interior space AIAC - Via Carlo Alberto 63 Rome.

EXHIBITION / COMPETITIVE HYPOTHESIS, NEW YORK

OPENSYSTEMS will showcase its awarded competition entry for The Peak, Hong Kong competition at Storefront Galley in New York. The exhibition is entitled The Competitive Hypothesis and examines the politics behind architectural competition. The show is organized by Think-Space in collaboration with Storefront gallery. Following the details:

Exhibition: January 22 - February 15, 2013

The Competitive Hypothesis is an exhibition examining the politics behind the architectural competition. The exhibition, presented in partnership with Think-Space, questions the current state, purpose and value of architecture competitions. 

Through four curated spaces within the gallery, The Competitive Hypothesis presents major architectural competitions produced within the past few years, objects from competitions used to gain competitive advantages, dioramas of image fragments sourced from a selection of recent urban design renderings, and short texts and self portraits of some of the unknown minds of significant competition winners (ie. interns). The Competitive Hypothesis will highlight the double meanings inherent in the 'competition': on one hand referring to the competition as a procurement mechanism for projects, on the other referring to an ethos or disposition that permeates work practice. This exhibition turns to both of these possibilities in order to continue an investigation into architecture's present condition. 

Exhibition Credits

Curated by Adrian Lahoud

Curatorial Team

Ana Dana Beros, Kata Gaspar, Carmelo Rodríguez Cedillo, Daniel Fernández Pascual, Ross Exo Adams, Ivonne Santoyo Orozco, Davide Sacconi

THINK SPACE, The Peak | OPENSYSTEMS Third Price Award

OPENSYSTEMS was awareded the third price of the Competition “THINK SPACE | The Peak, Hong Kong”. The competition was part of the Think Space / Past Forward cycle.
This cycle of competitions aims to hold a mirror to the discipline to reflect the changes of the last thirty years by re-visiting three competitions that radically transformed architectural culture: The Peak (1982), Yokohama Port Terminal (1994) and Blur Building (1999). All three winning entries emerged under unique conditions to take up critical positions on the predominant tendencies of their time. Though they have radically different ambitions, these three projects continue to reverberate throughout contemporary architectural culture in some way, introducing new attitudes to the ground, surface and atmosphere. Any current condition lacks coherency and the task of this competition is not to assert one, but to begin the work of constructing a passage between the indistinct and the articulated. This competition cycle aims to discover new possibilities in the recent history of architecture by returning to these singular moments of disciplinary transformation, looking back in order to discern how far we have moved and in what direction. The winning architects will have their work exhibited at Storefront for Art and Architecture  in New York City alongside the competitions panels for the original competition. 

Guest Curator of THINK SPACE 2012: Adrian LahoudCompetition
Jury: Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher

RECURS(H)IVE II (text taken from the project desciption):
The project takes advantage of the extraordinary natural surroundings to saturate the site with a highly dynamic structure. The building stretches over the site boundaries adapting its geometry to the topography of the Peak to expose the dwellings to the breathtaking views.The articulation of the proposal is based on an adaptive hexagonal structure that forms a dense settlement within the site boundaries. The hexagons proliferate on three levels following the topographic contour of the peak. Each unit is formed by a supporting column providing vertical support to the articulation of the floor slabs and the roof. These tree-like columns are also providing the development with all the necessary mechanical and electric services. These vertical supports allow for the freeing of the ground level of the building where a communal landscape area, parking and outdoor leisure facilities are located. Above the ground floor, the second and the third level of the residential units stand on communal plateaus which serve the different units while providing terracing and connection between the different parts of the site. This spatial organizational strategy allow for an array of spatial conditions that start from the intimate private unit, to outdoor private balconies;  from communal plateau to the semi-public ground floor, all the way to the use of outdoor landscaping facilities. The user is encouraged to navigate through these constantly changing conditions and playfully re-configure his/her path to interact with the fluid structure.
Design Director: Marco Vanucci | OPENSYSTEMS
Architectural Assistant: Mirco Bianchini | OPENSYSTEMS

AA DLAB | AA School - 25th July

AA DLAB Visiting School is a 15 days workshop that focuses on algorithmic design and digital fabrication strategies. This year it will run between 23 July - 5 August 2012 and will be focusing on the relationship between architecture and biology as our workshop agenda. Here is the AA DLAB website for some more information:  
http://dlab.aaschool.ac.uk/
As part of the structure of the workshop, a series of lectures is organized: I had the pleasure to be invited by the directore of AA DLAB, Elif Erdine, to present my work on Wednesday 25th of July.

OUTSIDE THE BOX | OPENSYSTEMS First Price Award

Marco Vanucci | OPENSYSTEMS was awareded the first price of the Competition “OUTSIDE THE BOX_Low and High Technologies for the Emergencies”. The competition was focused on identifying design ideas for resolving various problems in emergency situations: a small temporary structure capable of offering a small space for work, a centre of organisation and meetings for governments or other bodies dealing with and managing an emergency. A space that is simultaneously a workstation and information centre open to public, with free wifi and internet access to allow to people remain in touch with the rest of the world. The use of low and high technology, sustainability and parametric design were also encouraged.
Jury included: Patrik Schumacher, Neil Leach, Nancy Goldring , Mario Cucinella, Hans Ibelings, Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi, William Menking, Luis Moya González, Massimo Russo, Lucy Bullivant. The competition was sponsored by Analysit Group.

RECURS(H)IVE (text taken from the project desciption):

In emergency circumstances, man’s successful fit into the hosting environment depends on the possibilities for change and adaptation within a context of conservative use of resources. The project illustrates a differentiated and performative system attempting to overcome an existing dichotomy between standardization and need for diversity and change in environmental structures. The design uses parametric design protocols to develop a semi-modular system formed by the aggregation of differentiated cellular units. Each unit consists of a monocoque rigid shell and a pedestal. The differentiated monocoque shells are made of Fibre-Reinforced Plastic and their design is achieved by structuring an adjustable mould. Each individual unit is designed to provide self-sufficiency within extreme emergency conditions. The lightweight modular construction provides a minimum inventory / maximum diversity system. The minimum inventory of components (a kit of parts) is generated from the same topological matrix so standardized construction processes provide different design outputs. The units generated can then be assembled and reconfigured to better suit specific local conditions while retaining their individual effectiveness.

Design and computation: Marco Vanucci | OPENSYSTEMS
Structural Consultant: Carlo  Diaco

KTH Workshop | Feb.20 - Mar.3 2012, Stockholm

Digital Design Workshop at KTH University in Stockholm continues its investigation on material computation. The workshop is part of the second year Architectural Technology programme. This year, the AT' second year students were asked to explore Skin and Skeleton starting from the study and the development of "design primitives". The images show the remarkable results of a 2 weeks intensive design workshop.

A special thanks to Andy Nettleton for his coordination and contribution, Fred Houet for helping during the workshop, Oliver Tessman for his insightful contribution, Sander Schuur, Daniel Bosia and Bruno Guiomar.

CONDITIONS MAGAZINE | Interview

The new issue of the Scandinavian independent Conditions Magazine is out now.
The theme of this issue is New Technologies / New Practice and focuses on emerging design practice. Inside, among other  interesting things, you'll find my Interview by Scully Lynch, under the section Tools.

AKT-P.ART Team | S-String at Testbed Gallery, London

 




















S-String is installed and on display at Testbed Gallery in London until the 25th of September. The installation was designed and assembled by AKT Part Team (head designer Daniel Bosia) for the London Design Week's show. It is consists of a modular construction formed by the articulation of repeated components into a branching chain of units. The geometry was generated using a GH algorithmic definition. The components were laser cut and assembled on site by Part Team.

BEYOND ENTROPY | When Energy Becoms Form | out now!

Beyond Entropy - When Energy becomes Form
Edited by Stefano Rabolli Pansera
This book marks the conclusion of the AA School's Beyond Entropy research cluster, and is produced in tandem with an exhibition on show at the AA in May 2011. The theme of the book derives from the urgency with which the idea of energy has been raised in recent years in political, economic and scientific debates. The book charts the efforts of architects to re-appropriate this theme and to address the debate in a wider cultural sphere.Order your copy from AA Website.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATIONS /// 17-18 May, Cardiff

I've been invited to participate as Speaker to Digital Transformations Symposium, held at the Welsh School of Architecture in Cardiff on the 17-18 of May. The Digital Transformations Symposium is being launched in 2011 as a platform to explore links between computational design and spatial practice today.

The proposed format brings together architects, designers, scientists, researchers and other professionals with interests in computation and design (spatial, structural, urban, environmental, etc).
For it’s first occurrence, the symposium will take place at the Welsh School of Architecture with the following themes:

17.05.11 Processing Matter
18.05.11 Processing Complexity

Invited Speakers: Michael Grau (Zaha Hadid Architects); Daniel Widrig; Christina Doumpioti (Architectural Association, EmTech); Francis Aish (Foster + Partners); Michael Knauss (ETH, Zurich); Michael Batty (UCL, CASA); Christian Derix (Aedas); Marco Vanucci (AKT); Simon Lannon (Welsh School of Architecture); David Hines (Populous).

Supported by the Welsh School of Architecture, Design Circle RSAW South and CEBE
Special Thanks: Sergi Pineda (WSA) and Wassim Jabi (WSA).

KTH Workshop Exhibition | May 6-27 2011, Stockholm

DDWS 2011 investigated performative systems as the emergent interaction of geometrical, structural and environmental constraints. Moving away from the idea of program as the exclusive driving force for architectural design, DDWS 2011 pursues the investigation of material forms and their emergent intensive qualities in the attempt to produce heterogeneous spatial conditions. This year the workshop focused on the exploration of building envelopes and performative shell systems through the design of a multipurpose temporary or permanent structure. The workshop promoted the development of a design methodology where the project unfolds through a series of iterations seeking to best integrate the desired design parameters. This proliferation assisted the designers in identifying the benefits and the limitations of numerous alternatives while allowing adaption of the design to multiple heterogeneous conditions. This exhibition offers an overview of the two-weeks design exercise and the students’ remarkable results.

Curated by: Marco Vanucci and Andy Nettleton.
Special Thanks to: Tim Anstey, Jesús Azpeitia Seron, Hanif Kara, Mei Chan, AKT, Staffan Lundgren and all the AT second year students that contributed with their hard work and their passion.

KTH Workshop | February 14-18 2011, Stockholm

For the third year I've been running the Digital Design Workshop at KTH University in Stockholm. The workshop is part of the second year Architectural Technology programme. This year we continued exploring the territories between material and computation: the Architectural Technology Course' second year students were asked to design Performative Shells starting from the study and the development of design primitives. The images show the remarkable results of a 4 days intensive design workshop.

A special thanks to Andy Nettleton for his coordination and contribution, Mei Chan for helping during the workshop, Jonas Runberger and Studio11' Students for their support and for kindly attending the interim jury. I will be back in Stockholm March 3-4 for the Final Jury.

CITY VISION MAGAZINE | Marco Vanucci /OPENSYSTEMS Interview

"CITYVISION is a permanent lab that aims to develop a concept of architecture that is truly contemporary, so the modern city and its future image interact to update the skyline of our cities". On the latest issue of CityVision Magazine, Marco Vanucci | OPENSYSTEMS is interviewed by Davide Del Giudice on emergent computation. Here the on line preview.

Special thanks to Davide Del Giudice, Maria Azzurra Rossi and Francescoi Lipari.

ARCA MAGAZINE | Marco Vanucci /OPENSYSTEMS Interview

On the latest issue of the International Architectural and Design Magazine L'ARCA, the work of Marco Vanucci|OPENSYSTEMS is published together with a interview on computational design and the genesis of form. Thanks to the Guest Editor/interviewer Amanda Molinelli, Carlo Alberto Gasparini. Special thanks to Arch. Cesare Maria Casati.

BEYOND ENTROPY /// 27-28-29 August, Venice

I'm delighted to announce my participation to the AA School Beyond Entropy Symposium.The AA School Beyond Entropy Symposium is FREE to all and takes place on 27 August from 13:00 – 00:00hrs at Fondazione Giorgio Cini. Over 30 world leading figures from the arts, science, architecture, politics and philosophy will share ideas in a dynamic, fast paced and exciting event of thought and debate spanning all forms of expression in search of a new paradigm for energy. Speakers include Brett Steele (AA School); Hans Hollein; Hans Ulrich Obrist (Serpentine Art Gallery); Stefano Boeri( Abitare); Antonio Negri (EGS), Nikolaus Hirsch and many others. [Full list of speakers and timings here]. Press Release

Special thanks to Stefano Rabolli Pansera for organizing and for the kind invitation.

Here my Presentation

NOUS Gallery Spontaneous Schooling Exhibition

I'm pleased to announce my participation in the recent exhibition and publication entitled Spontaneous Schooling at the Nous Gallery in London. Many thanks to Melissa Woolford for the invitation. The exhibition was part of the London Festival of Architecture 2010 and it's open 18-23 June at the T-Building, London.

www.opensysdesign.com

For those of you that didn't notice it yet, this is the new URL of the blog.

By accessing the old address you'll be redirected to the new one. That might be a little trickier if you were following the blog from Google Reader. I hope this post will help. marco

www.opensysdesign.com

100419_Elasticity

More adventures in 3d space. The algorhitmic definition describes the tasselation of highly challenging double curved surfaces by employing planar elements. The relative simplicity of the system tickles my curiosity to see one of these files built one day. Anyone interested in helping out finding space, time and (why not?) "£" is very welcome!

100412_Elasticity

Here some images from a quick investigation on the tasselation of complex double curved surfaces generated using Grasshopper's WeaverBird. I started exploring these geomtries in TFM (as you can see from the previous post) and i decided to study their subdivision more in detail. More images and details to follow soon.

100330_TFM

Above some images of my latest lost competition entry for the Tokyo fashion Museum, organized by Arquitectum. In this project i tried to implement the sine wave algorhithm to develop a free form facade gently wrapping around the building. Moving away from the tasselated surface exercise, the project addresses the possibility to unfold a continuous pattern facade as a unifying whole mimiching the complex yet lawful articulation of natural patterns.
Various options were studied for the material and the texture of the facade: steel mesh, fabric...The facade is attached to the primary structure of the tower by steel brachets; the brachets hold a series of steel frames from where the fabric/mesh strecthes from.
Inside the envelop, a series of event spaces (or sky lobbies) help breaking the monotonuos stacking of floor plates providing runways for fashion shows while adding stability to the tower by connecting the two structural north-south facades. The sky lobbies were developed with G.Piacentino's Weaver Bird application for Grashopper.

Design team: Marco Vanucci, Adiam Sertzu
Structural Consultant: Sabina De Jesus (AKT)
thanks to: Daniel Piker.

KTH Workshop | February 22-26 2010, Stockholm / 2

I've just got back from an intense and productive week in KTH, Stockholm where i run a 4 days workshop together with Jugatx Ansotegui. Above some images of the work produced in 4 days by the 2nd year students. The intial studies based on the analysis and the development of design primitives were remarkably articulated and inspiring.
Special thanks to Daniel Norell (KTH), Andreas Falk (KTH) and Gunnar Tibert (KTH) for their support and for kindly attending the interim jury.

KTH Workshop | February 22-26 2010, Stockholm

Marco Vanucci together with Jugatx Ansotequi (AKT) will run a Digital Design workshop for first and second year students at KTH University, Stockholm from 22 until 26 of March. This year's brief is focused on the development of physical and digital techniques to implement the design of a temporary pavilion. A series of digital primitives and material techniques are used as seeds to implement the design work particular focused on the study of structural and assembly logics.
The workshop will keep running until the 5th of March and assessed by Prof.Hanif Kara.

Marco Vanucci interviewed at OpenThread Radio.

"Open Thread Limited is a London-based consultancy, which provides advisory services and technical facilitation to digital media companies. Its regular podcast about digital media's impact upon society is one way in which we disseminate their research output to a wider audience".

The episode entitled "Fame, Architecture and Web 2.0" examine how digital technologies are changing the role of architects and the nature of their work.

Special Thanks to: Sanderyn Amsberg, Rachal Bradley, Nicholas Hansen.

091215_Mesh SubDivision

"The climber of facades must make the best use of every ornament." Karl Kraus

Moving away from the description of nurb surfaces by mean of UV coordinates this experiment represent the possibility to use mesh planes and realtive vertices to extract points and apply Delaunay algorhythm. The input surface is therefore subdivided in a serie of planar triangles which form the base for the construction of the component geometry. The components are parametrically controlled by 6 points which define the triangular component, maximizing or minimazing their surface area.

Above some images showing the build-up process:
-surface "occupation" with point cloud
-subsequent "connection" through triangulated mesh
-"population" process through planar components

Below the Grasshopper definition.

091027_Reciprocal Frames

A reciprocal frame is a class of self-supporting structure made of three on more beams and which requires no center support to create roofs, bridges or similar structures.A reciprocal roof is assembled by first installing a temporary central support that hold the first rafter at the correct height. The first rafter is fitted between the wall and the temporary central support and then further rafters are added, each resting on the last. The final rafter fits on top of the previous rafter and under the very first one. The rafters are then tied with wire before the temporary support is removed. The failure of a single element may lead to the failure of the whole structure. [wikipedia]























In this exercise i continue exploring the relationship between systems and (static or dinamic) equilibrium (homeostatic serie). Reciprocal frames are structures where internal equilibrium of parts provide overall stability to the structure. My exercise is limited in exploiting the geometrical arrangement of component parts without engaging (for now) with the problem of overall equilibrium.

Bologna, Italy Theory to Practice November 9th 2009
I'm glad to have been invited to (what i think) one of the best current design studio in Italy: Ar-ca3 at Bologna University, run by Alessio Erioli. My lecture is part of a very interesting lecture series taking place during the fall term. Here the website of the course, structured as a social network where one can also find useful tips and links.

MarcoVanucci / OPENSYSTEMS will give a lecture on Monday 9th of November

Invitation: Alessio Erioli (E-Cloud, CO-DE-IT)