Daubmann named Director of Masters of Science in Architecture

I have been named the Director of the Masters of Science in Architecture degree at Taubman College.  This new role began this summer and I am looking forward to the challenges of this position.  I am really excited to be shaping the direction as we consider the role and opportunities associated with these types of research degrees.  

More to come soon. 

Lecture in Boulder on April 16

Karl will be presenting the work of PLY and related digital design and fabrication research at the University of Colorado Boulder on April 16th. 

Karl will be lecturing at Roger Williams in October

I will be lecturing at Roger Williams University on October 19th.  Here is the lecture series postcard.  The lecture is through the architecture school and will be open to the public.

Ayaka Sushi wins Metal Mag Interiors Award

Ayaka Sushi won the metal mag interiors category for the custom ceiling designed for the project.  The awards issue will be published in the September issue.

To see the other projects and to learn more visit:
Metal Mag Awards announced

Rustbelt to Artist Belt Conference in Detroit

On April 7^th I will be speaking in a panel “Edgy Practices: Creatives Making their Mark”.  The panel is part of the Rustbelt to Artist Belt Conference in Detroit which seeks to collaboratively explore the role creative people play in transforming the physical and economic landscape of post-industrial communities.  This panel will discuss how artists, designers and other creative practitioners are making their mark and will address issues pertaining to the shifting context for work, the ability to access significant opportunities and methods to gain recognition locally and nationally. The panel also seeks to identify what is needed and what is next for the region in terms of retaining and sustaining the careers of creative practitioners.

New Masters of Science in Digital Technologies announced at Michigan

Yesterday the announcement was finally public, Michigan will be accepting applications for a new MSc in the concentration of Digital Technologies.  The admissions deadline will be Feb 15th.

Here is the link: MSc in Digital Technologies

It is loosely organized around 4 possible trajectories: Hardware, Software, Data, and Synthesis.  It will be a three term program and culminates in an independent research project.  While it will focus on design research there are no studios in this MSc concentration.

We are excited to push the work in this area and looking forward to add another group of students into the mix at Michigan.

Application details will be available Dec 6th.

Another Semester Ends

This semester was a heavy technology semester with the ParaMod seminar and the grad studio also using DP.  This meant lots of posts and figuring out all sorts of DP related issues.  After the intensity and a solid week of final reviews, I am taking a week to focus on some other work.  I have ideas for a few more tutorials, one of which will include a DP rule to change the display color of objects and probably a simple ecotech shadow generation.

As far as work goes, PLY is getting busy and John Marshall, Cezanne Charles and I are collaborating again.  This time on a Tea House for Robots to be installed in Japan in July.  It will be at the Natinoal Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto from July 9 –  August 22.  Here is a link. We are ramping up this week so once there are images and mock ups I can post some of that work.

Stay tuned, the summer is getting busy already.

Karl to give Architecture Keynote at the HATCH Festival

I will be giving the architecture keynote at the Hatch Festival in Ashville, N.C. on April 16, 2010

The festival takes place from April 15-18, 2010.

The mission of HATCH is to provide mentorship, education, inspiration and recognition to the next generation of creative innovators. The focus is on the creative industries and how to best leverage the creative talent to impact the community and the planet in a positive and sustainable way. HATCHfest brings together luminaries in the arts to serve as mentors to groundbreaking new creative talent in the fields of architecture, design/technology, fashion, film, journalism, music, and photography.

Click here for more information on HATCH.

Radical Botanical by David Sokol

The Shadow Pavilion was published in the January issue of Interior Design Magazine.

FAB Lab at Michigan officially opens

Short article in the local paper about the FAB Lab open house.  (I hope the robot doesn't crash into the foam mold, obviously placed for the photo!)

The FAB Lab opening was also the topic of a recent local radio interview on the Lucy Ann Lance Business Insider – 1290 WLBY, Ann Arbor, MI.  Click here to listen to the January 20th interview.

To some, this might seem redundant.

Labeling a stack of plywood, "PLY".  The joke is that that is the name of the office.  The driver did not appreciate that I asked him to step aside so I could take a picture.

 

Back from CA

Had a great trip out to CalPoly SLO this past weekend.  The student work that I saw looked very interesting and I also had a chance to see the progress of a design build studio led by Mark Cabrinha.  I was also blown away by reviews outside, could never happen in Michigan.

Obviously had to get some good food along the way.  In and out burger a must at LAX and Sushi Gen an LA favorite.

Lecture on Friday

On Friday November 20th, I'll be lecturing at CAL POLY as part of the Hearst Lectures.  The theme this term is "Integrated Practices".  I will be discussing current work from PLY and recent research interests at U of M.  

 

Shape Shifters

How does JJ Abrams do it? 

In the most recent episode of Fringe (Momentum Deferred), Agent Dunham to Agent Broyles "I am not worried because if a shape shifting assassin from another universe wanted me dead, then I would be".

This comes across like a totally believable condition, not worthy of even pausing.

This is relevant because shape shifters are very cool.

Future of Design

Friday and Saturday (Oct 9-10) we are hosting an amazing line-up of theorists, designers, architects, educators to discuss the future of design.  It will be at Rackham Auditorium (seats 1000) so be sure to be in Ann Arbor this weekend.  It is a free event and open to the public.

Here is a link to the details: Future of Design 

Back from traveling

Sorry for no posts in a while. I just got back from a trip to Argentina and Uraguay. We lectured in Rosario and decided to spend some time there. Juan Rois from UIC organized a number of visits and meetings while we were there. We got to meet some of Argentina's best architects, went to their offices, and visited their projects under construction. Here is a sampling of the buildings (click for larger image).

We saw some amazing projects. The architects were all very open and interested in talking about similarities and differences between architecture and practice. The most striking difference is the role of labor. In Argentina the labor is less expensive but the materials are more expensive in comparison to the US. As a result, the use of brick and concrete (cheap materials) is more widespread and of much higher quality. The craft and time taken to build with masonry or fabricate on-site formwork is not a fearful proposition as it is in the US.

On top of Casa View with Diego, Juan, and Marcelo.

Waiting for our table. With Gerardo, Marcelo, Luis, Juan, Craig, and Jen.

And the steak... We ate some very good Argentinian beef while drinking very good wine from Mendoza.