Jan Knippers // Biological Design Strategies for Integrative Structures

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 21:58:46 +0000

Tonight we had the pleasure of having Jan Knippers lecturing as part of the IAAC Fall Lecture series 2014. Mr Knippers discussed Biological Design Strategies for Integrative Structures, presenting various examples of bottom-up design processes based on the transfer of biomimetic design principles and digital fabrication strategies. Following the analysis of the structural principles of biological role models, the material differentiation and the global morphogenetic arrangement are transferred into an architectural system. During the lecture Mr Knippers explained how this might lead to structural systems far beyond existing typologies of building construction.

An important characteristic of natural structures is their multi-layered, hierarchically structured, finely tuned and highly differentiated combination of a few basic molecular components leading to structures that feature multiple networked functions. Recent developments in computational design, simulation and fabrication offer new options for transfer of these principles to the macro-scale of building construction. Aim is not only to increase performance, but also to transfer the inherent ecological properties of natural constructions, i.e. mainly the efficient usage of limited resources and the closed material cycles, and thereby to contribute to sustainability in architecture and technology.

Watch the lecture here!

Tuesday 18th of November // Jan Knippers // Biological Design Strategies for Integrative Structures

admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 07:00:47 +0000

IAAC Fall Lecture Series 2014

Tuesday 18th of November 2014

Jan Knippers

Lecture: Biological Design Strategies for Integrative Structures

@ 19.30, IAAC Auditorium

Open to the Public

JAN KNIPPERS

Jan Knippers specialises in complex parametrical generated structures for roofs and façades, as well as the use of innovative materials such as glass-fibre reinforced polymers. Since 2000 Jan Knippers is head of the Institute for Building Structures and Structural Design (itke) at the faculty for architecture and urban design at the University of Stuttgart and involved in many research projects on fiber based materials and biomimetics in architecture. Since 2014 he is coordinator of the collaborative research center ‘Biological Design and Integrative Structures’ that aims to contribute to the conceptualization of biomimetics as a scientific discipline in the context of architecture.

Jan Knippers is also partner and co-founder of Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering with offices in Stuttgart, New York City (since 2009) and Berlin (since 2014). The focus of their work is on efficient structural design for international and architecturally demanding projects, as the Peek and Cloppenburg flagship store in Cologne with Renzo Piano (2006) or the Shenzhen International Airport with Massimilano Fuksas in 2013. Jan Knippers completed his studies of civil engineering at the Technical University of Berlin in 1992 with the award of a PhD.

Image Credits: Research Pavillon 2013-2014. ICD (Prof. Achim Menges) and ITKE (Prof. Jan Knippers), University of Stuttgart (credit: ICD/ITKE)

IAAC Blog » Jan Knippers

Jan Knippers // Biological Design Strategies for Integrative Structures

Tuesday 18th of November // Jan Knippers // Biological Design Strategies for Integrative Structures