AAST, Advanced Architecture Settimo Tokyo, is a series of events ideated by CASARTARC , an architectural association in Italy, to link the host cities of the UIA International Congress of Architecture in 2008 and 2011: Turin and Tokyo. As the joint event of ALGODE TOKYO 2011 (http://news-sv.aij.or.jp/algode/index.html) the international symposium on Algorithmic design held by AIJ (Architectural Institute of Japan), Casartarc is offering the aast international student workshop in Tokyo on the theme:Generative Space for Tokyo: innovative use of wood with algorithmic design. The aast workshop aims at offering a unique, hands-on experience for architectural students to research and experiment in the field of Generative Architectural Technology and Computational Design applied to Digital Fabrication.
Participants will be able to explore new concepts for architecture and urban space by setting up adaptable design processes and seamlessly connect them to the real construction of a 1:1 scale prototype for a temporary space in Tokyo. Computational design techniques and real fabrication processes will be approached and explored at the same time through the use of the most traditional of the building materials in Japanese culture: wood. In traditional construction, the Japanese carpenters employed their knowledge (passed on from generation to generation) to use wood as a construction material, solving joint problems in a way to create long lasting structures.
Now algorithmic programs can help the designer to explore several design processes at once, to generate new environments and to create adaptive solutions for a particular spatial concept. Digital fabrication processes, such as CNC cutting can deal with extremely complicated but algorithmically controlled work, making it possible to use this sustainable and natural material in innovative ways. By joining smaller, machine-cut pieces, according to an assembly rule to generate a whole it is thus possible to innovate along the Japanese tradition of creating patterns as a space-defining interface.
Tradition and innovation, digital design and real fabrication will be the topics of this workshop, with the aim to advance theoretical research as well as potential practical applications of algorithmic design in architecture and urban design.