This winter the AA will hold its first annual Beijing Global School at the Digital College of CrystalCG in collaboration with the parametric Studio of Tsinghua Architectural Design & Research Institute.

I will be a part of this event as a tutor.

The studio-based course is open to anyone interested in the experimental design of architecture and will investigate emerging computational approaches in the context of Beijing, one of the world’s most architecturally eclectic cities.

Challenging the Iconic As the capital of the world’s fastest growing country, Beijing has become an experimental platform for many architects, making grand statements encouraged by the obsession for so-called iconic buildings. Does Beijing need more of these and do these projects respond to the city’s history and culture or create an entirely new context? This workshop will address these questions. The objective is to evolve a coherent architectural prototype by ‘Super-Blending’ conflicting elements co-existing in Beijing (e.g. hutong and boulevard, courtyard and skyscraper, culture and technology, old and new, nature and artefact, order and chaos). Students will tour parts of the city prior to working in a team-based design studio. A series of seminars and lectures related to computational design will also be offered. The essential parametric design technique will enable students to experiment with code-based modelling and simulation following the workshop’s objective to challenge the iconic buildings of Beijing. participants will learn Rhino Gh and Scripting, plus some Maya and 3D Max animation and simulatio techniques, as well as 3D printing of prototype models.

Applications
The deadline for applications is 15 January 2010. Application forms and additional information are available online at:
www.aaschool.ac.uk/beijing2010 and applications can be submitted to: visitingschool@aaschool.ac.uk