Performative shells: parametric design and digital fabrication for ecological architecture

The paper focus on the role of parametric design and digital processes for building performative shells. As Mohsen Mostafavi pointed out in his book “Ecological Urbanism”[1] the fragility of our planet could be an opportunity for “speculative design innovations” rather than “technical legitimation for conventional solutions”. With this cultural premise, as mentioned by Saskia Sassen in her essay “Global city 20 years later”[2], the research project consider global cities as spaces for “advanced knowledge products”. The advanced production processes, as described by Chris Anderson in his book “Makers “ [3], are driving the -so called- “New Industrial Revolution”; thanks to the digital fabrication technologies the traditional relation between designer, producer and consumer is rapidly changing. Meanwhile the open source technologies are already affecting the economy supporting the development of low-cost CAM (computer aided manufacturing) machines creating new economic and social opportunities integrating traditional manufacturing processes for customized solutions. Therefore the project responds to the increasing desertification of our planet connecting digital fabrication processes with earth made and woodless construction techniques in order to evolve the vernacular architecture as classified by Bernard Rudofsky and Paul Oliver. As a matter of facts building with clay and ceramics has many desirable properties as a building material: thermal mass characteristics (energy efficiency), humidity controlling properties (environmental control), plasticity of form (structural stability). Taking inspiration from the work of Fabrizio Carola in Mali, the project develops a catalogue of domes as a performative tectonic system for housing projects. Domes are realized using 3D printing technologies extruding local clay. Bricks are designed with a parametric approach and assembly connecting traditional techniques and CAM machines. After the first scale 1/1 prototypes built in Morocco in year 2014 the design to make procedure will be tested in Nicaragua in year 2015 for a housing shell prototype for seismic and hurricanes area in the framework of a pilot project sponsored by the Swiss Cooperation.