The relationship between the body and architecture has a long history. From Vitruvius onwards there have been attempts to relate buildings to the proportions of the human figure. More recently the connection between the body and architecture has developed into an interest in the fashion industry among architects producing some exquisitely designed 3D printed wearables. But what is the significance of this work? And how do these 3D printed wearables relate to the discipline of architecture? Are these designs merely a distraction from the true business of the architect? Or do they point towards a new form of proto-architecture – like furniture, espresso makers and pavilions before them – that test out architectural ideas and explore tectonic properties as a smaller scale? And do they point towards a new form of design exploration that effectively expands the realm of the architect? In short, are these 3D printed wearables to be seen as a new genre of ‘body architecture’? This workshop and symposium are an attempt to chart these new developments and to analyze their relevance for the discourse of architecture with presentations by three of the most exciting young designers in the world of 3D printing today.
9.00am – 12.30 pm Jewelry Design Workshop
The workshop offers tutorials by our three guest designers in jewelry design using Maya, Grasshopper and Processing. Participation will be limited to a maximum of 66 students. Students will work in pairs to design an item of jewelry that will be printed using MBUS’s unique array of MakerBot 3D Printers, and exhibited after the symposium.
2.00 – 6.00 pm Body Architectures Symposium
The symposium features presentations by Niccolo Cassas, Behnaz Farahi and Madeline Gannon, offering an overview of their extraordinary designs, outlining not only the technical challenges behind the process, but also the often highly sophisticated research behind the designs themselves.
The workshop is limited to FIU students. The symposium is free and open to the public.
Organized by Neil Leach, Eric Goldemberg, John Stuart