INTERNATIONAL PEER REVIEWED CONFERENCE AND

PUBLICATION ETH ZURICH 1415 FEBRUARY 2014

MAIN SPONSOR

MAIN SPONSOR

CONFERENCE CHAIRS
Fabio Gramazio and Matthias Kohler

FABRICATE: Robotics Meets Architecture

The ability to apply advanced fabrication techniques in constructing

the urban environment is undoubtedly one of the greatest opportun
ities that this century has so far presented. Ultimately, it holds out
the prospect of solving some of the most difficult problems currently
being faced in the creation of new structures. Rapid expansion of
the global economy and also of the worlds population have created
an urgent need for a radical increase in the speed of building con
struction. However, the same forces have led to an urban situation
today in which only 2% of the worlds buildings feature genuine
architectural design leading to severe hardships whenever natural
disasters strike in certain regions. The prospect of being able to solve
these problems is extremely exciting, but caution is also needed in
order to avoid the risks involved in this type of solution.

INTERNATIONAL STEERING COMMITEE CO-CHAIRS

Bob Sheil and Ruairi Glynn
There is remarkable interest in intensifying the relationship between
design and making in architecture, primarily driven by research
institutions and young start-up entrepreneurs. In continuation of
the professions constructive tradition, entirely digital technologies
and construction methods, such as robotic fabrication or architecture-
scale 3D printing, are currently being tested with the help of proto
types, pavilions and smaller buildings.
The 2014 FABRICATE conference and publication at ETH Zurich
focus on the question of if and how the innovations developed will
become relevant on a larger scale. Special attention is given to
the even more important discussion of whether the creative spirit
originating from these digital-material explorations will lead to
a change in sensibility and methods that will affect the design
and building culture more fundamentally than it might appear at
a first glance.

Fabio Gramazio, Matthias Kohler,

Silke Langenberg (eds.)
gta Verlag, Zurich
ISBN 978-3-85676-331-2

SPONSORS

bachmann e n g i n e e r i n g ag

PARTNERS

A unique combination of research, applied sciences, design and

manufacturing is creating new opportunities for digital fabrication.
It has become clear that robotics will play an increasingly important
role in the future and not just since Google invested in companies
working in this area. The creative and at the same time scientific
approach that the use of robotics enables digital architecture
to pursue is pushing the industry to think differently. We are proud
to be part of an industry that is helping to create the future.
In todays world, where open architecture enables almost everyone
to actively participate in creating innovative product, tool, and pro
cess solutions, robotics is becoming increasingly important not
only for industry, but also for the service and commercial sectors.
It is our aim to find the most efficient ways of using robotic arms and
devices to support people in carrying out tasks that would otherwise
be impossible. Ideas become reality when they are combined with
new manufacturing methods and the intelligence built into commer
cially available robot controllers for use in industrial manufacturing
processes. Applying these technologies in new and innovative ways
widens the scope for their use and presents new opportunities, in
turn driving the continued development of new robotic technologies
and applications.
Combining creative tools, digital fabrication processes, and computer-
aided design in order to implement innovative ideas in the world
of digital architecture creates significant advantages, such as making
customization affordable and overcoming previous limitations.
It is a fascinating process. Learning from each other, combining our
ideas, taking inspiration from new ways of thinking this is what
enables us to grow in our profession every day. Questions arising
include: Why not consider producing the right material on site, during
the construction process? Why not combine technologies that
have previously never been used together into a single application?
Why not enable humans and robots to work in unison? Why not
aim to replicate historic achievements and give them a new future?
Why not scale up miniature designs so that they can be used in
architecture? In my view, we should not be asking ourselves why
not? but rather how and when? how can we do all this and
when will we be able to achieve it?
Form does not necessarily have to follow function. Design and
functionality, as well as design and manufacturing, can in fact go
hand in hand. The same applies to robotics and art robotics can
be viewed as a form of art that gives life to ideas. Let us create a
collaborative way of achieving the best results, capitalizing on the
key advantages presented by new digital fabrication methods.

ORIENTATION

www.fabricate2014.org
Internet Access on Campus
Network: public
Login: fabricate2014
password: FABRICATE
FABRICATE lecture hall
HIL FLOOR E

We first need to examine the methodology that could potentially

generate advances of this type. The Flight-Assembled Architecture
project by Gramazio & Kohler and Raffaello DAndrea with the
ETHin Zurich provides an excellent case study of the way in which
advanced fabrication at every level can combine to provide a totally
automated construction process. It is clearly possible for each
individual module in a building to be constructed by robots in order
to create a local function such as that of a dwelling but much more
complexity is involved when the role of each module in supporting
the overall structure is taken into account. Construction methods
of this type require a specialist study of each element of the building
in order to provide standardized approaches that can then be
programmed into a robot-driven solution. It would be possible to
imagine a construction site in which robotic fabrication of individual
models to match the structural requirements of a particular building
section would then be followed by automated placement of the
fabricated elements in short, leading to a building entirely produced
by robotic systems capable of working 24hours a day.
This type of approach, in which good-quality buildings could be
constructed economically and swiftly, is extremely attractive for the
development community, but there is a lesson from history that must
not be forgotten here. A century ago, elevator companies played an
integral role in determining design options for tall buildings and were
therefore able to offer architects creative solutions right from the very
conception of a project. Soon, however, a set of standard elevator
configurations emerged and the elevator companies were relegated to
the role of being mere equipment suppliers. Since many parameters
in building design today depend on an elevator core that has remained
frozen in time for a hundred years, a tremendous amount of creativity
has been stifled without anyone involved ever having realized this.
It is vital that the same mistake should not be made again as total
robotic fabrication develops. The challenge during the next few
years will be to ensure that the process continues to include a
human design element and that we do not further erode our ability
to capture the elusive spark of design imagination that will add
the next innovative structure to the architectural repertory.

INFORMATION

Parking
When arriving at ETH Hnggerberg by car, use the HIG garage.
The entrance is located directly under the overpass, parking
is available on levels A and B.
Public Transport
Zurich Airport ETH Hnggerberg

Alumni Lounge
(Lunch & Closing Party)

THe RoBoTIC ToUCH

exhibition
HIL FLOOR D

HIT

Take S2 or S16 to Oerlikon, then walk to Bahnhof Oerlikon Nord

bus stop (2 min.) and take bus 80 to ETH Hnggerberg (direction
Triemlispital).
Zurich Main Station ETH Hnggerberg
Take tram 11 from Bahnhofquai tram stop to Bucheggplatz
(direction Auzelg) and change to bus 69 which takes
you to ETHHnggerberg. Alternatively you can take a train
to Oerlikon, then walk to Bahnhof Oerlikon Nord bus stop (2 min.)
and take bus80 to ETH Hnggerberg (direction Triemlispital).
In order to find the best connections from your place of
accommodation, we recommend using the online timetable
from ZVV or the ZVV smart phone app.

WOKA

FOOD & BeverageS

HIF

GUIDED TOUR
HIF-HALL

HPI

ALUMNI LOUNGE

Bistro

Friday 08:0022:00
Saturday 10:0016:00

Friday 07:3019:00
Saturday closed

Hexagon

WOKA

Friday 11:1514:00
Saturday closed

Friday 09:0015:00
Saturday closed

Coop

BISTRO

HIL

Alumni Lounge

HPH

HEXAGON

Friday 07:3019:00
Saturday 09:0017:00
Conference Venue
ETH Zurich, Faculty of Architecture
Building HIL, Floor E, Lecture Hall E3
Stefano-Franscini-Platz 5 (before Wolfgang-Pauli-Str.15)
CH-8093 Zurich

CONFERENCE DAY ONE

14 FEBRUARY 2014 | HIL E 3

CONFERENCE DAY TWO

15 FEBRUARY 2014 | HIL E 3

08:0009:00 Registration
09:0009:10 Welcome by Co-Chairs Bob Sheil and Ruairi Glynn

09:0009:20 Late Registration

09:1009:20 Introduction by Matthias Kohler and Silke Langenberg

09:2010:00

09:2010:00
10:0010:30

CHALLENGING THE THRESHOLDS

10:3010:40

Opening statement by Session Chair Philippe Block

10:0010:30

Coffee break & Guided Tour at ETH

09:2010:00

Keynote

Virginia San Fratello

and Ronald Rael

14:2015:00

Session Chair

Philippe Block

Session Chair

Marta Mal-Alemany

10:3010:40

15:0015:10

Dirk Krolikowski

11:1011:30

Ammar Kalo

11:4012:00

Hanno Stehling

11:4012:00

Kadri Tamre

12:1012:30

Jelle Feringa and Asbjrn Sndergaard

12:1012:30

Tim Geurtjens and Alexandre Dubor

12:4013:00

Closing Discussion

12:4013:00

Closing Discussion

13:0014:10

Lunch Break

13:0014:10

Lunch Break

14:2015:00

Keynote by Neil Gershenfeld

FORMING MACHINES

DAY TWO | MORNING SESSION

LIVING ASSEMBLIES

DAY TWO | AFTERNOON SESSION

Keynote

Achim Menges

Keynote

Neil Gershenfeld

09:2010:00

14:2015:00

Session Chair

Wes McGee

Session Chair

Axel Kilian

10:3010:40

15:0015:10

Alex Haw

Ryan Luke Johns

Mike Silver

The Mobile Orchard:

Growing Ergonomic, Edible,
Aerial Datascapes

Augmented Materiality:
Modelling with Material
Indeterminacy

Peripatetic Fabrication:
Architecture, Co-robotics
and Machine Vision

15:1015:30

10:4011:00

15:1015:30

Dirk Krolikowski

Jose Sanchez

Ammar Kalo

Jared Laucks

The Leadenhall Building:

Design for Fabrication Digital
Workflow and Downstream
Fabrication System

Bloom

perForming:
Exploring Incremental Sheet
Metal Forming Methods for
Generating Low-cost, Highly
Customized Components

Silk Pavilion:
A Case Study in Fiber-based
Digital Fabrication

10:3010:40

11:1011:30

Keynote by Virginia San Fratello and Ronald Rael

Mario Carpo

Topo-faade:
Envelope Design and Fabrication
Planning Using Topological Mesh
Representation

Opening statement by Session Chair Wes McGee

DAY ONE | AFTERNOON SESSION

Robert Aish
and Gustav Fagerstrm

10:4011:00 Ryan Luke Johns

MATERIAL EXUBERANCE

Keynote

FORMING MACHINES

10:4011:00 Robert Aish and Gustav Fagerstrm

14:2015:00

DAY ONE | MORNING SESSION

Keynote by Achim Menges

Keynote by Mario Carpo

Coffee break & Guided Tour at ETH

CHALLENGING THE THRESHOLDS

10:4011:00

15:4016:00

11:1011:30

15:4016:00

11:1011:30

MATERIAL EXUBERANCE

LIVING ASSEMBLIES

15:0015:10 Opening statement

15:0015:10

Opening statement

Hanno Stehling

Emily Baker

Kadri Tamre

Skylar Tibbits

by Session Chair Marta Mal-Alemany

by Session Chair Axel Kilian

15:1015:30

Alex Haw

15:1015:30

Mike Silver

Search for a Rooted Aesthetic:

Study in Spin-Valence

Jose Sanchez

15:4016:00

Jared Laucks

(Fr)Agile Materiality:
Approximating Uncertain
Fabrication Processes

Fluid Crystallization:
Hierarchical Self-Organization

15:4016:00
16:1016:30

Emily Baker

16:1016:30

Skylar Tibbits

Bridging the Gap from CAD

to CAM:
Concepts, Caveats and a New
Grasshopper Plug-in

16:4017:00

Benjamin Dillenburger

16:4017:00

Ammar Mirjan

17:1017:30

Closing Discussion

17:1017:30

Closing Discussion

17:3018:00

Break & Guided Tour at ETH

17:3018:00

Break & Guided Tour at ETH

18:0019:00 Round Table Discussion chaired by Philip Ursprung

18:0019:00 Round Table Discussion chaired by Bob Sheil

Achim Menges, Neil Gershenfeld,

Philippe Block, Marta Mal-Alemany and

Wes McGee, Axel Kilian, Fabio Gramazio

Paul Friedli (Schindler/The Port Technology)

and Frank-Peter Kirgis (ABB Switzerland)

19:00

Exhibition opening & book launch The Robotic Touch,

19:00

Conference Closing Party

followed by an Apro

Mario Carpo, Virginia San Fratello, Ronald Rael,

16:1016:30

11:4012:00

Jelle Feringa
and Asbjrn Sndergaard
Fabricating Architectural Volume:
Stereotomic Investigations
in Robotic Craft
12:1012:30

Benjamin Dillenburger
Printing Architecture:
Castles Made of Sand
16:4017:00

11:4012:00

16:1016:30

Tim Geurtjens
and Alexandre Dubor

Ammar Mirjan

Anti-gravity Additive
Manufacturing

16:4017:00

12:1012:30

Building with Flying Robots