RepRap

finally, someone made it!

in the first video, you’ll find the philosophy that backs this open source project as well as the technology: bringing 3D printing to the people – or to communities. so now anyone can design AND produce their own things, even though in a small size and scale (at least for the moment) – which is a major breakthrough that can/will lead to design and production (r)evolution, making it more democratic.

but then again, this is the beginning and as more people collaborate on the project and improve the technology, better solutions will become available – free for anyone!

take a look and think about it

Darwin Version:

Mendel Version:

check also Makerbot.com – another option with great acceptance – and thingiverse.com!

Waste = Food

this is a documentary about Cradle to Cradle design and how we can – and should – rethink our options as designers.

i apologise for the quality of the movie, but this was the best i found…

GENERATE #2

 

i leave you one photo that exemplifies the materialisation of will, belief and proactivity: these architectural students from the University of Oulu (Finland) discovered the amazing possibilities that algorithms have to offer as a designing tool and took action – promoting this seminar at their University and passing their knowledge to their fellow students.

 

they found something special and believed in it – so they worked to promote and develope it, sharing their visions. congratulations!

Open Platform

“This event will complement SmartGeometry’s annual workshop and conference event, bringing many of SmartGeometry’s experienced tutors to guide participants in exploring computational design through a variety of technologies.”

 

about Smart Geometry:

“Architectural design with computational tools

Computation and the use of computer as an intelligent design aid provide the focus for the SmartGeometry Group. It was formed in 2001 as a partnership between Practice, Research and Academia. Some of the world’s leading architectural and engineering practices (Foster+Partners, KPF, Grimshaw, Arup, Buro Happold) and educational institutions (Architectural Association, MIT, Delft Technical University, University of Bath) are represented in its core organisation.

Geometry is one of many systems which are amenable to modeling. Architectural design as a process should, we maintain, exploit the new potential available in computing. To the new generations of architects mathematics and algorithms are becoming as natural as pen and pencil.

The activities of the SmartGeometry Group promote the emergence of a new generation of digital designers and craftsmen, who are able to expolit the combination of digital and physical media. The group’s interests range from parametric design and scripting to digital manufacturing.”

Michael Hansmeyer

i found Michael Hansmeyer’s work around 7 months ago, while searching for information about Algorithmic Architecture and learning how algoithms can work as a design tool. worth to pay it a visit!

“regardless of their complexity, the tasks and decisions involved [when designing a building] can be formalized as an algorithm. As such, algorithms provide a framework for articulating and defining both input data and procedures. This formalization can promote structure and coherency, while systemically maintaining full traceability of all input.”