Invited Lecture: BETTER URBAN SHELLS at ETH Zurich

By 2050, 70% of the world population will live in cities.  Today already 50% lives in an urban environment and produces more than 75% of all C02 emissions. My long-term research goal is to transform the engineering design framework for a future-oriented built urban environment. In my research I address the following questions:1. What is the relationship between form and efficiency in form-passive structures?; 2. With increasing pressure on the preservation of natural resources, how can design theories match untested sculptural ideas to material-efficient, constructible curved surfaces?; and 3. Since nature has had 4 billion years to evolve, how can designers of adaptive shells draw from its systems for innovation?

“Better Urban Shells” on Tuesday 5th March, ETH Hönggerberg campus, Room HIL E TBD, 12:00-13:00, ETH Zurich