Austrian Pavilion architect to speak on ‘sublime’ designs

Photo of the Australian Pavilion by Kasi Metcalfe, courtesy of Creative Commons.

Leslie Ovalle / Contributing Writer

Matias Del Campo, the head of Vienna-based architecture firm SPAN, will hold a lecture at the College of Architecture + The Arts about his form-based practice which incorporates geometry, biology and botany into his designs like the Austria Pavilion and the Brancusi Museum in Paris.

Juan Brizuela, a correspondent for the college, said guests like Del Campo are chosen carefully by the department with a focus on international architects. He said the role of international guests is important because they show students how broad and boundary-less these subjects of design, technology and architecture really are.

“Our lecture series introduces students to new designs and new perspectives,” Brizuela said. “The lecture series supports our priority of offering our students a rigorous and well-rounded education in all forms of architecture.”

Del Campo’s lecture is titled “Sublime Bodies” and will focus on his recent research that he is directly involved in and is behind the sublime bodies – or structures – that SPAN has created.

He will touch upon autonomous tectonics, computational monstrosities and atmospheric objects. These are all advanced and new studies that include the use of robotics construction methods, 3D printers, laser cutters, and other technologies.

These technologies are a big part of what makes SPAN’s structures sublime, with these technologies they are able to create and see the organic patterns of movement that are signature of Matias Del Campo and his firm.

“The computer serves us not primarily as an instrument for the visualization of predefined concepts, but is rather understood as a partner in designing,” Del Campo was quoted on Archdaily.com. “Consciously employed interactions serve to facilitate manipulation and end up generating results that are surprising or otherwise not what one would have expected. Like a spontaneous mutation in nature, what can arise can be new, useful or just simply beautiful.”

The lecture series has already hosted Patrik Schumacher, a senior designer for London firm Zaha Hadid Architects, who focused on the parametricism style which embodies mathematical curvature and is based on advanced computational design and digital animation techniques. These techniques and styles are showcased in Zaha Hadid Architects’ work like Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center in Baku, Azerbaijan.

[pullquote]“His lecture will show how cool architecture is to look at and visit,” Benjamin said.[/pullquote]

Other previous lecturer guests also include Ivan Bernal, a Colombian born architect and designer. His lecture focused on his thesis, recognized as the “Best Thesis of 2011” by Southern California Institute of Architecture, on the relationship between primitive shapes and audience familiarity.

This month’s lectures will end with Matias Del Campo on Feb. 27. All lectures are held in the Paul L. Cejas School of Architecture building in room 135 at 5 p.m. These lectures are free and open to the public.

“Everyone can take away better understanding of how the built environment, technology and everything we take for granted enhances our lives, protects our families and creates communities,” said Malik Benjamin, an instructor and director of program innovation for the CARTA School of Architecture.

“His lecture will show how cool architecture is to look at and visit,” Benjamin said.

-news@fiusm.com