4.592
Special Problems in Computation—
Digital Design and Materialization
Instructor: Larry Sass
Telephone: 617-452-2023
Office:
10-481M
Send e-mail: lsass@mit.edu
Units: 2-2-8
Level: H
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor
The course will meet two times per week, devoting one weekly session for lecture and student presentations and the other session for hands-on tutorials and project development.
Description:
This advanced graduate-level course is an exploration into digital fabrication techniques specifically dealing with the design and materialization of wood structures through large-scale modeling. Building upon current design research, the coursework will investigate computation as a tool for the reconstruction, reinterpretation and translation of design methodologies in architecture. This course is geared towards students interested in digital modeling and fabrication, including parametric design software and CNC milling applications.
The course will be structured around a series of 4 cumulative investigations that will develop into a final project determined by the student. This final project will be an in-depth analysis of the relationship between digital models and their materialization.
Investigation 1: Software & Hardware – history, pedagogy and tutorials
Investigation 2: Applications – modeling and materializing projects
Investigation 3: Building a Design Tool – design logic and grammar development
Investigation 4: Deploying a Design Tool – actualizing the logic and grammar
Final Project: Student-driven Design Interests – to show comprehensive understanding of the investigations. It will include the completion of a digital model and corresponding physical model as well as a thorough written report documenting the process and reflecting upon the findings.
