Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality

The second International Research and Design Forum took place on Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15, 2022, and was organized by the SOM Foundation in partnership with the Cluster of Excellence Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture (IntCDC) at the University of Stuttgart. The two-day event included presentations by academics and industry leaders whose body of work, creativity, and expertise inspire the future of materiality in the built world.

October 14–15, 2022 University of Stuttgart Keplerstraße 17 70174 Stuttgart Germany

Somf 2022 international research and design forum booklet

Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

“We are excited to bring together some of the most remarkable people practicing today to learn from and discuss their research on materiality and the diverse ways they approach it. After the successful inaugural edition in Chicago in 2019, we are extremely happy to partner with the University of Stuttgart to continue these conversations and engage the students, faculty, and professionals,” said Iker Gil, Executive Director of the SOM Foundation.

“The SOM Foundation symposium hosts a series of great speakers at the intersection of research and practice” commented Jan Knippers, director of the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE), deputy director at the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC of the University of Stuttgart, and participant at the inaugural edition of the forum. "The aim is to steer academic research in a relevant direction and to stimulate innovation in practice. The University of Stuttgart is excited to partner with the SOM Foundation on the second edition of this forum.”

Iker Gil, Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

Somf 2022 international research and design forum iker gil

Jan Knippers, Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

Somf 2022 international research and design forum jan knippers

Speakers of the forum included Sigrid Adriaenssens (Princeton University), Thomas Auer (TU Munich & Transsolar | KlimaEngineering), Martina Bauer (Barkow Leibinger), Mollie Claypool (UCL The Bartlett), Brandon Clifford (MIT & Matter Design), Paul Fast (UIUC & Fast + Epp), Antón García-Abril (MIT & Ensamble Studio), Mariana Popescu (TU Delft), Jenny Sabin (Cornell University & Jenny Sabin Studio), Mark Sarkisian (SOM), and Joshua G. Stein (Woodbury University & Radical Craft).

Sigrid Adriaenssens, Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

Somf 2022 international research and design forum sigrid adriaenssens

Thomas Auer, Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

Somf 2022 international research and design forum thomas auer

Martina Bauer, Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

Somf 2022 international research and design forum martina bauer

Mollie Claypool, Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

Somf 2022 international research and design forum mollie claypool

Brandon Clifford, Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

Somf 2022 international research and design forum brandon clifford

Paul Fast, Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

Somf 2022 international research and design forum paul fast

Antón García-Abril, Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

Somf 2022 international research and design forum anton garcia abril

Mariana Popescu, Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

Somf 2022 international research and design forum mariana popescu

Jenny Sabin, Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

Somf 2022 international research and design forum jenny sabin

Mark Sarkisian, Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

Somf 2022 international research and design forum mark sarkisian

Joshua G. Stein, Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

Somf 2022 international research and design forum joshua g stein

Architect and structural engineer Werner Sobek, founder of Werner Sobek Group, was honored during the symposium for his contributions to the fields of architecture and engineering. In 1983, Sobek received the Fazlur Rahman Khan International Fellowship from the SOM Foundation. He was presented with the recognition by William Baker, SOM Structural Engineering Consulting Partner and inaugural honoree of the International Research and Design Forum.

“Werner Sobek is a brilliant engineer, architect, and environmentalist who has dedicated his career to innovation. He has continually strived to create new architecture and systems through research and design. He is a perfect choice to be honored at the SOM Foundation International Research and Design Forum in Stuttgart,” said William Baker.

William Baker, Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

Somf 2022 international research and design forum baker sobek 01

Werner Sobek, Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

Somf 2022 international research and design forum sobek 01

William Baker and Werner Sobek, Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

Somf 2022 international research and design forum baker sobek 02

Creating New Architecture Through Research: On Materiality, Stuttgart. From left to right: Martina Bauer, Paul Fast, Mark Sarkisian, Mariana Popescu, Werner Sobek, Brandon Clifford, Jenny Sabin, Iker Gil, William Baker, Joshua G. Stein, Jan Knippers, Mollie Claypool, Achim Menges, and Lucio Blandini. Photograph by ftgrf. © IntCDC, University of Stuttgart/SOM Foundation, Chicago.

Somf 2022 international research and design forum group

On the second day of the event, participants gathered privately to reflect on the ideas presented during the public forum and to discuss continued challenges in addressing climate change. Alessandro Beghini (SOM), Lucio Blandini (ILEK), Philippe Block (Block Research Group), Dmitri Jajich (SOM), Phil Obayda (SOM), Ann Sychterz (UIUC) joined speakers from the previous day to share their ongoing research. The presentations were followed by a group conversation prompted by the individual talks and the larger ideas of the forum. Achim Menges (IntCDC) and several students gave a tour of the IntCDC Large-Scale Construction Robotics Laboratory (LCRL) in Waiblingen.

Lectures

Sigrid AdriaenssensPrinceton University

Thomas AuerTU Munich & Transsolar | KlimaEngineering

Martina BauerBarkow Leibinger

Mollie Claypool
UCL The Bartlett & AUAR

Brandon Clifford
MIT & Matter Design

Paul FastUIUC & Fast + Epp

Antón García-AbrilMIT & Ensamble Studio

Mariana Popescu
TU Delft

Jenny SabinCornell University & Jenny Sabin Studio

Mark SarkisianSOM

Joshua G. SteinWoodbury University & Radical Craft

This forum was presented as part of the Stuttgart Week of Advancing AEC organized by the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC at the University of Stuttgart week. The forum was open to the public and welcomed design professionals, educators, and students. More information is available at www.intcdc.uni-stuttgart.de/stuttgart-week-of-advancing-aec.