ARCHITECTURE Archives - Immaginoteca

“Why are you doing this?” Here is why.

On the 31st of December 2022, I put an end to an important chapter of my career as educator and professor.

In fact, after 6 years of intense dedication, I decided to step back from my position as Director of Design by Data, the Executive Master in Computational Design for Architecture I have founded at Ecole des Ponts ParisTech.

Quitting one of the most prestigious school of Europe while letting go a series of incredible adventures and relations with my students was not an easy decision to make, but I had important reasons to do so.

A few days ago, I published on Linked-in a post to explain and disclose the story of the Master, and also to share which projects I am focusing next: directing Volumes company to expand worldwide, bringing back Villa Buonaccorsi to the commons, and founding a startup studio for the construction industry and supporting independent education.

Below is a copy of my post – you can also find the original one here –

Somewhere in 2015, while having a drink with my friends Aldo and Minh after one of our computational design workshops in Paris, Aldo declared it was time to stop running workshops and to launch a master program in computational design, the first of its kind in France.

When Aldo Sollazzo says something, you’d better execute it.

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

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.

the most interesting shift in design is that we have passed from designing object to designing networks and processes http://t.co/iwg54WHo

— Francesco Cingolani (@immaginoteca) September 29, 2012

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

Architecture paramétrique et collaborative pour unMonastery

Il y a 2 ans, dans le processus participatif dreamhamar, nous avions invité 7 écoles européennes d’architecture et de design à travailler avec nous et les habitants pour repenser la nouvelle place de Hamar, une petite ville en Norvège. Nous avions appelé cela un academic network, un réseau académique international capable de contribuer au projet de manière collaborative.

Pourquoi pas tenter la même chose avec le projet collaboratif unMonastery?
J’ai donc eu l’idée d’inviter mes étudiants en architecture paramétrique de l’école de Marne La Vallée à rejoindre la réflexion en développant des propositions pour ce nouvel espace qui est en train de se co-dessiner à Matera, dans le sud de l’Italie.

Voici ce que leur ai proposé dans une lettre que j’ai envoyé ce matin.

Continue reading Architecture paramétrique et collaborative pour unMonastery