We Workshop, an online platform for my events in Paris

Why do I spend my time publishing things on my blog ? Since the beginning I can’t stop asking myself this question and I think that the main reason why I’m doing this is because it helps me understand what I do and where I am going.

I principally refers to my projects. For instance, since 2 years I’m working as curator and organizer of international workshops in Paris about computational design and parametric architecture. I know that I love to do that but I don’t understand why. Sometimes I can’t figure out what are the connections between different things I do.

The other day I was in Amsterdam with one of the participants of a past workshop and we havre been discussing for an hour about art, architecture, computation, life and cities. I understood then clearly that working as workshop curator means constantly meeting new interesting people coming from different countries and with different approaches and ideas. And it’s one of the reasons why I love it.

Continue reading We Workshop, an online platform for my events in Paris

DATA TREES : initiation au paramétrique

Depuis l’année dérnière j’organise à Paris des workshops internationaux sur les thèmes du computational design, l’architecture paramétrique et ses applications dans l’approche smart cities et l’urbanisme collaboratif. Ci-dessous je partage le contenu du dernier workshop d’initiation qui s’est deroulé il y a une semaine avec 9 participants provenant de France, Bélgique et Canada.

Le workshop se répète au mois de juillet : toutes les informations sur architectureparametrique.com.

Ci-dessus ma présentation Architecture Paramétrique et Network Thinking qui introduit le workshop. Je tiens beaucoup à ques mes workshops ne soient pas que des formations à un logiciels et, au contraire, j’insiste sur les aspects philosophiques et méthodologiques liés à la pensée et à la concepetion paramétrique. Continue reading DATA TREES : initiation au paramétrique

Parametric VS Computational Design

There is big trend about parametric approach and computation in design and architecture. In the last months, I’ve repeatedly been involved in discussions about if it would be more exact to call what we do as designers “computational design” or “parametric design”. It is not a useful discussion, I have to say.

I have the feeling that computational design is more trendy and parametric design is more nineties, would you agree with that ? As Aldo from Noumena Architecture said during our last workshop : “Don’t say parametric design!”.

But what is the difference between “parametric design” and “computational design” ?

I don’t know. “Computational design” refers to the use of computers and mathematical approach to the generation of geometries, objects and architecture. “Parametric design” is about using parameters to design things. It means that if parameters changes, the result change. Regardless of which expression is the best, what interests me the most is the idea of focusing on design process instead of designed objects.

Parametric VS Computation design

The process is everything

The process is everything (Mies would say that “God is in the process”) and that’s why I think that “parametric design” is still an interesting way to explain our approach. Parameters is about changing conditions and adaptability to user needs. We need to design process instead of objects.

François Roche recently published on his blog our emails exchanges about these topics. If you know him a bit, you would not be surprised to see that he’s not very polite. If you don’t speak French, try to google translate the post.

François Roche says that “computation is a good think, not parametric design…it’s like confusing science with the power of science”.

I answered “Personally, I’m more interested in action than language.” Continue reading Parametric VS Computational Design

Open Lecture sur la fabrication numérique

Si l’année dernière REaction avait eu un grand succès avec la thématique Smart Cities, cette année nous avons été complètement débordés par les inscriptions : depuis une semaine nous n’acceptons plus d’inscriptions pour REaction 1401 et pour l’instant nous avons dû mettre des participants sur une liste d’attente.

Dans tout les cas, vous êtes invités le jeudi 13 mars à 19h pour la conference ouverte et gratuite qui ouvrira le workshop. Robert Garita de FabLab Barcelona, un des partenaires de Superbelleville pour les workshop REaction 1401 / 1402,   nous exposera son point de vue sur la fabrication numérique et sera prêt à répondre à vos questions. Continue reading Open Lecture sur la fabrication numérique

Il futuro del (civic) crowdfunding

All’epoca della dematerializzazione, il #crowdfunding è un bel tentativo di conferire un nuovo ruolo sociale ai beni materiali.

Mi hanno invitato in qualità di speaker all’evento romano Crowdfuture, Il 19 ottobre a Roma.
La seconda edizione del 2013 è divisa in track tematiche che trattano diversi aspetti del crowdfunding : regulation, legal, gamification, open source e, infine, il civic crowdfunding sul quale interverrò in qualità di architetto per condividere la mia esperienza nei processi e spazi collaborativi.

Come mi spiega Alessio Barollo, curatore della track, Il civic crowdfunding è una particolare forma di finanziamento dal basso legato alla pianificazione e progettazione urbana che coinvolge cittadini, società private e organizzazioni allo scopo di finanziare opere e progetti pubblici al di fuori del budget dell’ente o dell’amministrazione interessata.

Continue reading Il futuro del (civic) crowdfunding