CAS Future Heritage / MAS in Denkmalpflege und Konstruktionsgeschichte Autumn Semester 2025
Teaching Team: Orkun Kasap, Laurence Crouzet
The past two decades witnessed significant advances in the areas of computational design and digital fabrication in architecture. These often include the use of advanced fabrication tools such as robotic arms and 3d printers, which are computer-controlled via algorithmic scripts to manufacture geometrically complex building parts that are optimized in terms of materials and structural design.
The prototypes and buildings that demonstrate such technologies often feature new and experimental composite materials, construction details, planning, and fabrication processes. They are the result of unique interdisciplinary science and industry partnerships. The innovations embedded in such objects offer a preview of building methods that will become commonplace in the production of buildings in the future. As such, it is critical to observe the performance of such novel constructions, especially in terms of their durability and repairability, and to document the building processes to foresee the challenges associated with the preservation of the future building stock.
Switzerland, and especially Zurich, has become an important innovation center in the field of digital fabrication in architecture. This course will discuss the role and relevance of digitally built architecture as heritage through excursions and input lectures. The discussion will be accompanied by a critical observation of the existing preservation theories and practices regarding innovations in architecture and construction.