Digital fabrication

Pavilion 26 is an experimental architectural structure developed throug large scale 3D concrete printing. the project explores the potential of additive construction as a design and architectural tool, allowing curved walls, continuous surfaces and customized geometries to be produced directly through digital fabrication. Cristiano Pepi Cristiano Pepi Cristiano Pepi The caracteristic lsyered texture of the walls is not an applied finish but the direct expression of the printing process part of the architectural language. Developed in collaboration with MateriaNova, the project investigates a new relatinship between digital design, material and construction, exploring how additive manifacturing can expand architectural free... More

Collaborating as the digital-fabrication partner with Studio H2G, this coffee bar and lounge is located within Detroit Metro Airport’s McNamara Terminal. Inspired by the iconic Water Fountain installation at McNamara, this structure is composed of floating ribbons that illuminate with light and other multimedia devices. H2G It provides airport guests with a central point of destination to decompress, relax, and meet with traveling friends and colleagues; or to pause for a moment of quiet reflection while enjoying the world-class food and beverage services available along the mile-long concourse. H2G More

As a National Historic Landmark, Detroit’s Pewabic Pottery has been handcrafting pottery and architectural tiles for public and private buildings in the United States for over a century. In response to reaching the physical limits of working space, this addition has more than doubled Pewabic’s current production space. The addition establishes an open floor plan that allows for a flexible work layout and easy work flow for fabrication. It improves working conditions for artists, introducing natural light and ergonomic workspaces, while also providing a more compelling visitor experience. INFORM The exterior façade is designed to highlight Pewabic’s artistry as well as integrate into the fabric of the residenti... More

Equinox Wisconsin Avenue located in the District’s City Ridge neighborhood. The two-story Fitness Club is an inspiring hub for its community. The club amenities include a spa, Pilates studio, cycling studio, weight room, steam room, and juice bar. EQUINOX | INFORM EQUINOX | INFORM EQUINOX | INFORM INFORM Studio worked with fabricator, FARM, to custom design and fabricate a metal staircase that would be a statement design element. The Wisconsin Ave stair was an exercise in reframing our understanding of both the beauty and performance of a stair. Normally considered a secondary consideration, the backside of the stair took center stage in terms of visitor experience within the club. EQUINOX | INFORM EQUINOX | IN... More

The M1 Concourse is the world’s largest community of private car condominiums. The 87-acre campus provides car and racing enthusiasts a full‑service venue for an immersive experience. It is supported by a state-of-the-art 1.5 mile high-performance track, the M1 event center, restoration shops, aftermarket retail, and restaurants. Steve Kroodsma Steve Kroodsma The M1 Event Center’s design complements the style and speed presented in the adjacent M1 Champion Motor Speedway. The center was created to host a variety of events including vehicle launches, charitable event galas, fashion and lifestyle showcases, and significant automotive and technology expositions and has a 6,300sf ballroom and outdoor spaces including an u... More

The new Van Leesten Memorial Bridge reworks abandoned freeway infrastructure (I-195) to connect five prominent neighborhoods and institutions within the city. Acting as a pedestrian center, the pedestrian bridge not only performs as a practical connector between regions, but also offers multiple programmatic interventions to encourage community connection and social engagement among city residents. The project captures a potential much larger than that of a pure connector. It leverages integrated program elements to serve as a mediator between urban and ecological spaces, allowing east and west to become a singular public space. INFORM INFORM INFORM INFORM In addition to establishing a visual symbol of renewal, the Van... More

The project entails the renovation of an office space located at one of the main buildings of a group of companies in Athens. The guiding principle was to create a timber interior that innovatively juxtaposes organic forms and clean lines. Spyros Hound Photography Spyros Hound Photography Covering the two pre-existing load-bearing columns and parts of the ceiling, the main element of the scheme is a sculptural plywood structure that draws inspiration from the ocean floor. The design fluidly unfolds and enfolds the space as it functions as a unifying gesture above eye-level. In stark contrast, the custom-made furniture was conceived in strong, geometric shapes that address the functional needs of a focused workspace as well as a c... More

A series of intricate, operable sun shades that integrate seamlessly into the north-facing façade of the building and move to adjust the amount of light and heat.  The combination of 44 fixed and 64 operable louvres provides dual functionality, controlled via an optimised algorithm based on the sun's position throughout the day.The design concept represents an innovative approach to the management of environmental obligations in architectural design (thermal efficiency) in combination with the delivery of a functional and unique facade. Tilt Industrial Design managed the design, manufacturing, installation and commissioning of the sun shading system in collaboration with architects fjmt. The key to successfully delivering a pr... More

This project is entitled “Woven Grove,” and is an exploration of the inherent material behaviors of bamboo and inspired by the craft-based practice of weaving. As bamboo is one of the most rapid growing natural materials and is capable of absorbing vast amounts of carbon in the process of growth, it seemed to us to be a very natural material to begin exploring. We often begin with a material and try to develop an understanding of how we might best leverage the material for its inherent properties and behaviors and allow those studies to drive our design. In this case we found that the bamboo was highly pliable and flexible, however, when these forces are woven together we are able to achieve a highly rigid and lightweight struct... More

MaoHaus is an experimental façade piece exploring historical context, material potentials, novel fabrication and performative qualities within architecture. Taking the simple frame and edge condition of the existing structure, the façade enters the space of the hutong as a flowing fabric. This fluidity is expressed through the conventionally rigid material of concrete questioning inherent perceptions of materiality through formal expression. Beyond the undulating form, the perforations of the surface serve to filter light, during the day, rays of sunlight enter the vestibule, and at night the precisely tuned apertures reveal a triptych of Chairman Mao’s prototypical portrait. The expression of Chairman Mao within the fa&... More

The suspension footbridge in Tianmen, China, spans two mountains, and its design simulates that of the surrounding snow-capped mountain landscape. Further, it responds to the cloud-edge effect, capturing direct and reflected light to increase solar energy production. On cloudy days, its solar panels absorb diffused as well as reflective light, so that this bridge can achieve maximum exposure to solar energy. Moreover, its canopy is clad and fabricated with a highly reflective shifting carbon-fibre aluminium composite embedded with photovoltaic and piezoelectric cells. Pedestrians have a birds-eye aerial view that changes with the weather, anticipating cloud-breaks and expanding horizon lines. The bridge stands at a height of 650 feet above... More

The Awen’ Indigenous Gathering Place is a new space for sharing, learning, teaching, ceremony, celebration, and contemplation commissioned by the Town of Collingwood to advance truth and reconciliation.The Awen’ Gathering Place was designed by architects and landscape architects of Brook McIlroy’s Indigenous Design Studio in collaboration with renowned educator, artist, and poet Dr. Duke Redbird of the Saugeen First Nation. It is an open-air pavilion sited prominently on top of a hill in Harbourview Park, between the lake and the town.The concept, based on the teachings of Dr. Redbird, is a representation of the layers of the food forest, with each layer linked to one of the Seven Ancestor Teachings. Tilting Alaskan Cedar poles seven metres... More