Recent developments in industrial robotics present an increasing degree of control in additive manufacturing, enabling customization of architectural building components at the scale of the individual unit. Combining the affordances of a 6-axis robotic arm, pastebased extrusion, and terracotta clay, Modulo Continuo presents methods for partcustomization of evaporative cooling facade modules. The design of the facade modules is developed firstly at the scale of the tectonic unit -as a self-supporting, interlocking modular system of curved modules with an embedded water reservoir for evaporative cooling. Second, this is developed at the scale of the toolpathin which the density of the infill geometry in the modules is calibrated based on principles of evaporative cooling. This research presents aesthetic and performative opportunities through an exploration of infill patterning and density of modules based on evaporative cooling requirements. To produce each curved module through additive manufacturing, curved CNC milled substrates are used to support the geometry while accommodating clay shrinkage. Furthermore, this paper presents novel digital workflows for the customization of a modular façade system and the generation of variable toolpaths for infill patterns. By developing additive manufacturing methodologies for partcustomization, the research presents future opportunities for the digital fabrication of ceramic construction elements.

Machine Learning (ML) is increasingly present within the architectural discipline, expanding the current possibilities of procedural computer-aided design processes. Practical 2D design applications used within concept design stages are however limited by the thresholds of entry, output image fidelity, and designer agency. This research proposes to challenge these limitations within the context of urban planning and make the design processes accessible and collaborative for all urban stakeholders. We present PlacemakingAI, a design tool made to envision sustainable urban spaces. By converging supervised and unsupervised Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) with a real-time user interface, the decision-making process of planning future urban spaces can be facilitated. Several metrics of walkability can be extracted from curated Google Street View (GSV) datasets when overlayed on existing street images. The contribution of this framework is a shift away from traditional design and visualization processes, towards a model where multiple design solutions can be rapidly visualized as synthetic images and iteratively manipulated by users. In this paper, we discuss the convergence of both a generative image methodology and this real-time urban prototyping and visualization tool, ultimately fostering engagement within the urban design process for citizens, designers, and stakeholders alike.

The increasing development of Augmented Reality (AR) applications have found prevalence within construction stages of architectural projects. The workflows developed within digital fabrication and assembly processes provide insights on how the design cycle could be completed through mixed reality. In this paper we present VitruviAR, an AR prototype for handheld devices which focuses on the design ideation stages of a project through an intuitive user interface and multi-functional toolset. Three design methodologies relating to the act of sketching digitally are proposed: freeform 3D sketching in point-based meshes, additive 3D sketching with primitive and scanned objects, and computational 3D sketching via a User Datagram Protocol (UDP). These each demonstrate engaging ways of designing and visualizing new spaces and interacting with urban contexts in real-time.