Lignitec’s Post

After Auto by Post Rock (Meredith Miller, Thom Moran, Chris Humphrey) is part of a group exhibition, Material Acts: Experimentation in Architecture Design, on view at Craft Contemporary in Los Angeles until January 5, 2025. ⁠The exhibition examines how contemporary design practices mobilize, confound, and generate natures, whether through simulating mechanics or growing biological matter.⁠ ⁠ Creating an exterior cladding panel made from automotive plastic waste, After Auto is part of Post Rock's ongoing material investigation into repurposing waste polymers as building materials.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ Image courtesy of Post Rock, Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning, University of Michigan. https://lnkd.in/g4rQ_9tg

🌍 At SMAY, Innovation Meets Tradition in Design! 🌍 🔍 At #SMAY, our design concepts are grounded not just in European Standards and decades of technical expertise but are propelled by cutting-edge scientific research. We've dedicated years to studying real-world applications to bring you the most reliable and innovative design solutions. 🏢 Case Studies: 60m High Building Our extensive research on a real 60m high building has helped us refine our design strategies to enhance safety and efficiency. 90m High Building and the Stack Effect A two-year study on the stack effect in a 90m high building has deepened our understanding of environmental impacts on high-rise structures. Dr. Iza Tekielak's Groundbreaking Research The head of our R&D, Dr. Iza Tekielak, has revolutionized our approach with her PhD research on airflow resistance in various types of staircases. Thanks to Dr. Tekielak’s Izabela Tekielak Skałka, we have developed tools that allow us to accurately predict pressure distribution in staircases, considering dimensions, airtightness, external temperatures, and vent placements. 📊 Listen to Radek Sikorski to learn more.

Fifty-five years after Louis I. Kahn´s Lecture “Silence and Light” at ETH Zürich, an interesting encounter took place during the Final Review at Studio Boltshauser this week. This event brought together third semester students, teachers and guests, to reflect on and rethink the relevance of Kahn´s work in the context of our time.   As part of the course “Material Und Licht”, 70 impressive student projects were investigating the spatial potential of regenerative and sustainable materials on our shared site in Saaremaa, Estland. This work was part of our enriching collaboration between TalTech – Tallinn University of Technology, ETH Zürich, University of Pennsylvania and The Oslo School of Architecture and Design .   We would to thank Studio Boltshauser for generously sharing their knowledge and insights, the Louis I. Kahn Estonia Foundation for initiating this collaborative effort, and the EEA and Norway Grants for enabling this important exchange. Together, these contributions have already inspired valuable reflections on how the thoughtful choice of building materials and structural considerations combined with daylight conditions on the site, can enrich the important discourse on what a responsible architecture for our time might be.   https://lnkd.in/dWhFpF4h   https://lnkd.in/dQcWF4YK

Barão-Hutter’s architecture studio adaptive reuse of Aarau’s Alte Reithalle sets a new standard in acoustic architecture. First-prize winner in an open competition, this decade-long project (2012–2024) replaces a dual-hall concept with a singular, open space—where dramatic curtains serve as acoustic barriers and structural extensions. Key innovations: - Textile-based solutions for unparalleled atmospheric and acoustic quality. - Flexible spatial design for concerts, dance, and theater. - Sustainable transformation honoring the building’s cultural heritage. Directed by Sebastian Vargas, Alte Reithalle film captures how fabric became structure during argovia philharmonic rehearsals conducted by Rune Bergmann. 👉 Watch the full film: https://lnkd.in/eJbmap7R

In a study that could have been titled, "Want Fast, Cheap, and Efficient? Get Screwed", a recent paper published in the International Journal for the History of Engineering and Technology showed that the legendary Crystal Palace, architectural star of London's Great Exhibition of 1851, was made possible by the use of a standardized screw thread. This 990,000-square-foot building of cast iron and plate glass was built in only 190 days, an astonishing accomplishment. There are plenty of examples of innovative science and technology, but to turn these into real-world impacts, you have to have a shared industrial ecosystem that facilitates standardization and interoperability. Without that, you've got a hundred competing standards that keep everyone locked in their own separate sandboxes. Competing modalities for electric vehicle charging connectors is just one modern example. https://lnkd.in/e8dWnPCK

D-ARCH welcomes the architect Debora Mesa Molina, who has been appointed Full Professor of Architecture, Arts and Technology at ETH Zurich. With her practice Ensamble Studio, her research and the startup WoHo, the Spanish architect explores the possibilities of prefabrication to industrialize construction and make it more affordable. “There is a lot to optimize if you compare construction with the automobile industry. We demand more from our cars than our homes”: Read more about Débora Mesa Molina in the D-ARCH Magazine: https://lnkd.in/ebghuTTY Ensamble Studio WoHo Systems, Inc. #architecture #technology #construction #teaching #research

In a space world inhabited by the most intelligent alien species, their architecture is a seamless blend of advanced technology and organic design, with structures that defy gravity, made from living materials that adapt and grow, while incorporating energy fields and bioluminescence to power and illuminate their environments.

We’re excited to present our new book: "Unlocking the Potential of Building Envelopes: A Sustainable and People-Centered Approach to Reduce the Environmental Footprint of the Built Environment." https://lnkd.in/eP_ivQBB This book explores how performance-based and parametric design, user-centred strategies, technology transfer, and smart materials can transform the way we conceive and implement building envelopes. Inside, you’ll find: - The evolution of building envelope design amid digital and ecological transitions - Early-stage optimization strategies for performance-based solutions - Decarbonization-driven materials and responsive technologies - Human-centric approaches to ensure health, comfort, and well-being A heartfelt thank you to my co-authors and colleagues Tiziana Poli, Alberto Speroni, Matteo Cavaglià, Juan D. Blanco. Your passion, dedication, and collaborative spirit have shaped a resource that underscores our ongoing research at SeedLab@DABC, Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (ABC), Politecnico di Milano.

Introducing the panelists for: It’s 2025, Now What? Reconsideration of Spatial Thinkers We are thrilled to announce an incredible lineup of speakers for our upcoming event on February 6th, where we’ll explore the evolving role of spatial thinkers in addressing today’s pressing global challenges. Irene Luque Martín Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU Delft, Irene brings the unique perspective of a spatial designer to her work in urban sustainability, circularity, and innovation. She connects academia, policy, and practice, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to shape resilient and equitable cities. Lesia Topolnyk Winner of the Prix de Rome 2022, Lesia is an architect, artist, researcher, and founder of StudioSpaceStation. Combining speculative design, architecture, and storytelling, Lesia explores the socio-political complexities of space. Her work challenges conventional thinking and bridges design, art, and activism, reimagining the role of spatial thinkers. Floris Alkemade An architect, urban planner, and former Chief Government Architect of the Netherlands, Floris brings visionary insights into the intersections of design, policy, and societal challenges. His work has shaped the future of architecture and urban planning in the Netherlands and beyond. Nikos Katsikis Urbanist and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU Delft, Nikos focuses on the intersections of urbanization, territorial governance, and environmental transformation. His research combines theory and practice, addressing sustainability, circularity, and equitable urban development. Event Details: When: February 6th, 2025 (17:30) Where: Toekomstatelier Oostkop Museumpark 25, PO Box 237, Rotterdam, Zuid Holland 3000 AE, NL Sign up here to join the discussion https://lnkd.in/e7XxHSty Join us for an engaging discussion followed by a New Year’s Borrel at 20:00 More events in this sequence will be organized as part of international and national future thinking activities in partnership with Toekomstatelier Oostkop, Nieuwe Instituut. Vereniging Deltametropool #Its2025NowWhat #SpatialThinkers #Sustainability #UrbanDesign #Architecture #PrixDeRome2022 #Circularity #FutureOfPlanning

In March this year, we initiated our Innovator in Residence program with Elena Maldonado Suárez, a multidisciplinary design researcher and industrial design engineer. Using mycelium as a medium, the first of her three research pieces delves into the historical context and limitations of human-centred perspectives, sustainability and the pursuit of post-human design practices. “In order to engage better with our everyday-life, solid objects, it is imperative to visualise the presence of materials and delve into the reasons behind designing and producing consumer goods. But what if we go one step further and ask: what is the substrate of our objects? What does it mean to inhabit a material world? What does the term material mean?” Read the whole article now on Medium. https://lnkd.in/eB2DWThu