Prototype Development within Architecture

A PhD project by Jonas Runberger

The licentiate thesis Architectural Prototypes: Modes of Design Development and Architectural Practice

The licentiate thesis was defended at KTH School of Architecture in Stockholm on September 30th 2008 with opponent Michael Speaks (PhD, Dean College of Design, University of Kentucky). The thesis was passed, leading to a Technical Licentiate degree in Architecture.

The licentiate thesis is divided into two parts; the Contexts book and the Projects book. The two books are intertwined through a system of references, and are meant to be read together. The Contexts book explores contemporary discourses within the field of digital and projective design and new forms of architectural practice. The Projects book is based in design projects developed by the Jonas Runberger, often in collaboration with other architects, and traces a discourse based on advanced parametric design methods and architectural effects.

The thesis is printed in a limited and numbered edition of 125. A small number of copies will be available for sale shortly, please contact jonas (at) runberger.net for more details.

The thesis can also be read on-line here, with both books displayed as pdfs in an html framset. If you have any problems accessing the material please try the two individual links to the two pdfs below.

Thesis abstract

This licentiate thesis is design driven, partly based on case studies in the form of experimental design projects developed mainly within the research and design collective Krets. It constitutes the first half of a PhD project that studies new technologies and techniques within design processes and the production of architecture, especially in relation to collaborative models. Specific aspects of architectural design processes are formulated, tested and evaluated within this framework. Key elements within the design process are targeted, through their impact on social, cultural and technological aspects. The continuous tool for this investigation is the prototype, which operates as a base for collective work, a probe, a tool for communication and an archive. It is not necessarily a physical artifact, but can also exist as a system or a set of rules. It is important that the prototype becomes a protocol for communication between collaborating interests in the design process.

The thesis is divided into two parts; the Contexts book and the Projects book. The two books are intertwined through a system of references, and are meant to be read together. The Contexts book explores contemporary discourses within the field of digital and projective design and new forms of architectural practice through two articles. The Projects book is deploying selected parts of design processes from projects developed by the author in collaboration with other architects as well as student work from studios taught by the author, and traces a discourse based on advanced parametric design methods and architectural effects.

Keywords:

architecture theory, design theory, prototype, performance, effect, affect, architectural design project, parametric model, design solution space, fabrication, production, industrial process, research by design, digital practice, projective practice, generative components, krets, parcel, splinegraft, urbantoys v.2, informed modularity,
architecture information

The thesis design and format has been developed in collaboration with Ummocrono, where Nina Wollner has designed and produced the two books.

link to both books set as pdfs in an html frameset
link to Contexts book pdf
link to Projects book pdf
link to abstract and seminar presentation
link to thesis instruction
Images suitable for print can be downloaded here as a zip-folder.

The PhD project Prototype Development within Architecture

The PhD project was initiated at the KTH School of Architecture, leading to a Technical Licentiate in Architecture on Spetember 30th 2008. The work commences at the KTH School of Industrial Engineering and Management towards a PhD.

The PhD is design driven, partly based on case studies in the form of experimental design projects developed within the research and design collective Krets and elsewhere. The PhD project studies new technologies and techniques within design processes and the production of architecture, especially in relation to collaborative models. These techniques are considered to be a vital part of the practice of architecture, and very potential for the establishment of a critical, continuous internal development of the mode of operation for any architectural practice. The research is driven by design projects of different scales and contexts. Specific aspects of architectural design processes are formulated, tested and evaluated within this framework. Key elements within the design process are targeted, through their impact on social, cultural and technological aspects.

The continuous tool for this investigation is the prototype, which operates as a base for collective work, a probe, a tool for communication and an archive. It is not necessarily a physical artifact, but can also exist as a system or a set of rules. It is important that the prototype becomes a protocol for communication between collaborating interests in the design process. The definition of the term prototype is continuously refined during the course of the project, informed by design processes in the case studies, but also by surveys of other fields. Of particular interest are the methods of prototyping within product development and transportation design, frequently referred to as innovative processes as opposed to specification driven and problem solving processes.

Previous events

LICENTIATE SEMINAR
Thesis title: Architectural Prototypes: Modes of Design Development and Architectural Practice
Date: Tuesday September 30th 2008
Time: kl 15:00-18:00
Location: room F3, KTH Campus, Stockholm
Respondent: Jonas Runberger
Opponent: Michael Speaks, PhD, Dean College of Design, University of Kentucky
Main advisor: Docent Katja Grillner (Director of Research and PhD-studies KTH-A)
Co-advisors: Ulrika Karlsson (Servo/KTH), Tim Anstey (Lecturer in Architecture, University of Bath)

FINAL SEMINAR FOR LICENTIATE THESIS
Title: Prototype Development within Architecture
Date: Monday April 21st 2008
Time: kl 9:30-12:00
Location: room A3, KTH School of Architecture, Östermalmsg 26
Respondent: Jonas Runberger
Opponent: Michael Speaks, PhD, Dean College of Design, University of Kentucky
Main advisor: Docent Katja Grillner (Director of Research and PhD-studies KTH-A)
Co-advisors: Ulrika Karlsson (Servo/KTH), Tim Anstey (Lecturer in Architecture, University of Bath)
(previous seminar was based on the text part of the thesis, this seminar includeded text and project part)

ADVANCED SEMINAR FOR LICENTIATE THESIS
Title: PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN ARCHITECTURE
Date: February 6th
Time: kl 9:00-12:00
Location: room A1, Arkitekturskolan, Östermalmsg 26
Respondent: Jonas Runberger
Opponent: Dr Fredrik Nilsson, Chalmers/Utvecklingschef White Arkitekter.
Main advisor: Docent Katja Grillner (Director of Research and PhD-studies KTH-A)
Co-advisors: Ulrika Karlsson (Servo/KTH), Tim Anstey (Lecturer in Architecture, University of Bath)

	The licentiate thesis Architectural Prototypes: Modes of Design Development and Architectural Practice The licentiate thesis was defended at KTH School of Architecture in Stockholm on September 30th 2008 with opponent Michael Speaks (PhD, Dean College of Design, University of Kentucky). The thesis was passed, leading to a Technical Licentiate degree in Architecture. The licentiate thesis is divided into two parts; the Contexts book and the Projects book. The two books are intertwined through a system of references, and are meant to be read together. The Contexts book explores contemporary discourses within the field of digital and projective design and new forms of architectural practice. The Projects book is based in design projects developed by the Jonas Runberger, often in collaboration with other architects, and traces a discourse based on advanced parametric design methods and architectural effects. The thesis is printed in a limited and numbered edition of 125. A small number of copies will be available for sale shortly, please contact jonas (at) runberger.net for more details. The thesis can also be read on-line here, with both books displayed as pdfs in an html framset. If you have any problems accessing the material please try the two individual links to the two pdfs below.
Thesis abstract This licentiate thesis is design driven, partly based on case studies in the form of experimental design projects developed mainly within the research and design collective Krets. It constitutes the first half of a PhD project that studies new technologies and techniques within design processes and the production of architecture, especially in relation to collaborative models. Specific aspects of architectural design processes are formulated, tested and evaluated within this framework. Key elements within the design process are targeted, through their impact on social, cultural and technological aspects. The continuous tool for this investigation is the prototype, which operates as a base for collective work, a probe, a tool for communication and an archive. It is not necessarily a physical artifact, but can also exist as a system or a set of rules. It is important that the prototype becomes a protocol for communication between collaborating interests in the design process. The thesis is divided into two parts; the Contexts book and the Projects book. The two books are intertwined through a system of references, and are meant to be read together. The Contexts book explores contemporary discourses within the field of digital and projective design and new forms of architectural practice through two articles. The Projects book is deploying selected parts of design processes from projects developed by the author in collaboration with other architects as well as student work from studios taught by the author, and traces a discourse based on advanced parametric design methods and architectural effects. Keywords: architecture theory, design theory, prototype, performance, effect, affect, architectural design project, parametric model, design solution space, fabrication, production, industrial process, research by design, digital practice, projective practice, generative components, krets, parcel, splinegraft, urbantoys v.2, informed modularity, architecture information The thesis design and format has been developed in collaboration with Ummocrono, where Nina Wollner has designed and produced the two books. link to both books set as pdfs in an html frameset link to Contexts book pdf link to Projects book pdf link to abstract and seminar presentation link to thesis instruction Images suitable for print can be downloaded here as a zip-folder.
The PhD project Prototype Development within Architecture The PhD project was initiated at the KTH School of Architecture, leading to a Technical Licentiate in Architecture on Spetember 30th 2008. The work commences at the KTH School of Industrial Engineering and Management towards a PhD. The PhD is design driven, partly based on case studies in the form of experimental design projects developed within the research and design collective Krets and elsewhere. The PhD project studies new technologies and techniques within design processes and the production of architecture, especially in relation to collaborative models. These techniques are considered to be a vital part of the practice of architecture, and very potential for the establishment of a critical, continuous internal development of the mode of operation for any architectural practice. The research is driven by design projects of different scales and contexts. Specific aspects of architectural design processes are formulated, tested and evaluated within this framework. Key elements within the design process are targeted, through their impact on social, cultural and technological aspects. The continuous tool for this investigation is the prototype, which operates as a base for collective work, a probe, a tool for communication and an archive. It is not necessarily a physical artifact, but can also exist as a system or a set of rules. It is important that the prototype becomes a protocol for communication between collaborating interests in the design process. The definition of the term prototype is continuously refined during the course of the project, informed by design processes in the case studies, but also by surveys of other fields. Of particular interest are the methods of prototyping within product development and transportation design, frequently referred to as innovative processes as opposed to specification driven and problem solving processes. Previous events LICENTIATE SEMINAR Thesis title: Architectural Prototypes: Modes of Design Development and Architectural Practice Date: Tuesday September 30th 2008 Time: kl 15:00-18:00 Location: room F3, KTH Campus, Stockholm Respondent: Jonas Runberger Opponent: Michael Speaks, PhD, Dean College of Design, University of Kentucky Main advisor: Docent Katja Grillner (Director of Research and PhD-studies KTH-A) Co-advisors: Ulrika Karlsson (Servo/KTH), Tim Anstey (Lecturer in Architecture, University of Bath) FINAL SEMINAR FOR LICENTIATE THESIS Title: Prototype Development within Architecture Date: Monday April 21st 2008 Time: kl 9:30-12:00 Location: room A3, KTH School of Architecture, Östermalmsg 26 Respondent: Jonas Runberger Opponent: Michael Speaks, PhD, Dean College of Design, University of Kentucky Main advisor: Docent Katja Grillner (Director of Research and PhD-studies KTH-A) Co-advisors: Ulrika Karlsson (Servo/KTH), Tim Anstey (Lecturer in Architecture, University of Bath) (previous seminar was based on the text part of the thesis, this seminar includeded text and project part) ADVANCED SEMINAR FOR LICENTIATE THESIS Title: PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN ARCHITECTURE Date: February 6th Time: kl 9:00-12:00 Location: room A1, Arkitekturskolan, Östermalmsg 26 Respondent: Jonas Runberger Opponent: Dr Fredrik Nilsson, Chalmers/Utvecklingschef White Arkitekter. Main advisor: Docent Katja Grillner (Director of Research and PhD-studies KTH-A) Co-advisors: Ulrika Karlsson (Servo/KTH), Tim Anstey (Lecturer in Architecture, University of Bath)