From bits to buildings – that was the theme of the fourth edition of the Value of Design symposium held on March 18 2014 in TU Delft. Since its inception in 2002, the symposium has been organised by U-dispute, the study association for the MSc students of Structural Engineering and Building Engineering in the faculty of Civil Engineering.
Delen
The association first thought of this idea in October 2002. The objective was to give Civil Engineering students a better understanding of architecture and we thought of doing this with a lecture by a well-known architect,” explains Zinzi Reimert, the treasurer of U-dispute. The first symposium was to feature Frank Gehry, one of the world’s foremost architects, but it fell through. It took almost four years to get the symposium off the ground and the first edition was finally held in 2005. “The year’s theme brings into focus the use of parametric design and computer programs in the design process and how this will impact the role of different professionals in the future,” adds Reimert.
Another aspect stressed on throughout the symposium was the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to design. “Direct interaction between engineers and architects is very important,” stressed Professor Kas Oosterhuis, who kicked off the symposium. Oosterhuis heads the knowledge centre for Nonstandard and Interactive Architecture at TU Delft.
Architect and director of Structural Engineering at SOM (one of the largest architecture, interior design, engineering, and urban planning companies in the world ) Charles Besjak spoke about the many layers, disciplines and technologies involved in architecture today. In his presentation, Besjak traced how the revolution of computer technology played a major role in the evolution of architecture. “In the 1960s we used computers to check complex calculations and by 1981 software had been developed that could be used for digital displays of the entire project,” said Besjak. Today there over 400 design-related software than can be implemented for building and design, including those for 3D modelling, calculating wind stress on tall buildings, interior space planning and so on. “However, these are all tools for the architect, who must use these wisely and not rely on them entirely.”
Other speakers included Richard Garlock who has recently worked on the 72-story WTC Tower 4 in New York City and Massimiliano Fuksas and Thorsten Helbig who designed the new Terminal 3 at Bao’an International Airport in Shenzhen, China.
“It was really interesting to see so many details about the construction of great architectural projects. There was a lot of emphasis on parametric design but not enough about how architects and engineers can actually work together. However, the speakers were all really good and it was a learning experience,” says Aukje Schukken who is doing her MSc in architecture.
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