T-CAM: Textures In Clay Additive Manufacturing

T-CAM: Textures in Clay Additive Manufacturing

March 18th - 20th, 10:00 - 05:00

Instructor: Alexander Tohidi, Likhinya KVS, Neel Jain

Research in vernacular architecture presents design and material strategies. For centuries, vernacular architecture has existed as a method of construction to address the needs of local settlements by using locally and conveniently sourced materials like soil, clay, sand, rock & timber in addition to organic local materials such as straw or leaf fibres. It is estimated that about two billion people currently live in buildings made of earth material [Keefe, 2005].

Traditional materials like clay with textures have been employed extensively in human-centred design for many years at various scales. For instance, surface themes and patterns in vernacular mud architecture reflect cultural legacy, social settings, and functional responsibilities in society. However, due to modernization, we have seen a decline in the usage of textures during the past century, and traditional crafts are on the verge of extinction.

The larger intent is to use cutting-edge printing technology to revitalise and innovate these old crafts. In order to develop new forms of creative expression with more accurate representation in materials like clay, whose methods are now available but rather constrained and limited, this will offer up newer options that are not bound to surfaces.

In today’s time and age, this integration could not only enhance the tactile experiences but also produce intricate designs that are affected by human emotion, natural shapes, and patterns, which help to create distinctive visual, aural, and nostalgic sentiments- in architecture.

This workshop offers a unique opportunity to explore the possibilities of creating sustainable and unique textured forms using clay 3D printing. By delving into the potential of this approach, we can question if this characteristic can be furthered, leading to new forms in art, design, and architecture, which in turn, opens up new ways for sustainable construction. The objective of this endeavour is to fully exploit the collaborative potential of texture as a characteristic and 3D printing as a process to explore new alternatives for the future.

Date: 18th - 20th March
Duration: 6 hours/day
Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm India Standard Time (IST)
Mode of Teaching: In Person at CEPT
Intake: 12-15
Pre-requisites: Knowledge of Rhino and Grasshopper

Instructor

Alexander Tohidi

Alexander is an architect & computer scientist with extensive experience in challenging architectural and infrastructural projects across Australia. He has worked with multiple architectural, engineering & manufacturing firms on the implementation of digital technologies & workflows. He is an advocate for sustainability, digital technology & digital fabrication, providing training for industry and teaching Digital technologies to “architectural, industrial design and engineering students” at the University of Sydney and UNSW. Some of his work has been exhibited in multiple galleries across Australia. He is well established within the industry and has a wide range of connections. He is an expert in Digital Technology, Systems implementation, Architecture, Software architecture, 3D printing, robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), BIM & Digital fabrication, and manufacturing processes, with leadership and people skills. The focuses of his recent research have been on Robotic & 3D printing, implementing policies & digital systems, and workflows to improve the efficiency of the industry.

Likhinya KVS

Likhinya is an architect and currently a Research Associate at the Centre for Product design and manufacturing, Indian Institute of Science. She graduated from the Faculty of Architecture, CEPT University in 2021 with a research focus on “Initiating 3D printed mud architecture in India”. Since then, she has collaborated with multiple leading 3DP companies in India for initial experimentation and prototyping to promote this technology. She prefers calling herself a multidisciplinary designer and has a strong interest in hands-on research dealing. She has also been involved in teaching at the Faculty of Architecture and Design at CEPT. Her vision is to design for the future of the Built Environment by integrating digital fabrication and vernacular design principles to design sustainably.

Neel Jain

Neel is a partner at andlabs, Ahmedabad, where he integrates computation and technology with architecture practices. He is a CEPT University graduate, and his research focuses on Spatial Layout Generation and Robotic Construction. He has been teaching Visualisation, Construction, and Architectural Design at CEPT.