Jonas Runberger

I am currently working on assembling my different paths in order to look for coherence. This is a first draft and an overview.

Project title: Prototype Development within Architecture
Project update 090115
Jonas Runberger

Cases, prototype development and references, and how they are to be integrated into the thesis.

1. Digital design systems and production methods in practice.
This work would be based on the Gotland Arena project, a conceptual proposal for a new indoor arena near Visby designed by Jonas Runberger in collaboration with YAJ Architects and Adams Kara Taylor Structural Engineers in 2007. The project is based on the idea of new production methods linked to the local limestone industry.

Work has not yet been initiated. I will contact YAJ and check the status of the project. Project integration may include feasibility studies of production means through interviews with producers based on the conceptual proposal from 2007, parametric redevelopment of parts of the proposal, and/or full scale trials of production. The level of involvement will depend on the project status and timeframe, since it really demands interaction with other parties. Renewed contact will be taken early spring 2009.

2. Experimental design development within education.
Research collaboration with Diploma Unit 16 (Dip16) at the Architectural Association (AA) in London.

Teaching is ongoing, but suffers partly in organization. Project integration will most likely be through one or more student projects, looking at the particular results in relation to fabrication and sustainability issues. Emphasis will be put on projects that interact with other parties and also cover organizational and management issues. Empirical material will be collected during the spring of 2009, along with continuous documentation.

3. The role of the Architect in Industrial System Development.
Jonas Runberger has as an employee of Scheiwiller Svensson Architects been a system architect for Skanska Xchange project since 2007, and has previously conducted research on industrial production supported by Boverket. The association to the Skanska development platforms will provide invaluable bench mark examples of implemented design and production systems, and provide a close affiliation to the industry.

The future participation in this project is not clear, but hopefully also past participation will be cleared from confidentiality and become available for the thesis. Enquiries will be made in early spring 2009, as the current phase of the project is completed.

4. Parametric architectural design development and fabrication
The ParaTable design project explores parametric design principles, fabrication, production, and the tools for communication and the management of relevant processes within its development. Operating at the scale of furniture, it is meant to be used as a prototype and probe to establish connections with new collaborators at KTH and elsewhere that can provide resources for design tools, communication tools and production means.

Project is slowly commencing, and the first physical scale models have been produced. This material will be used in contact with production researchers in the spring of 2009, with the aim of have a full scale prototype ready before summer 2009. Rigorous documentation will look at product development and the potential for production. The relative complexity (for a table of this scale) resulting of the parametric principles, should make the findings relevant also for a more complex project.

5. Arkus publication
The PhD project will be informed by a survey and overview over the contemporary use of ICT tools for design development and project communication within experimental as well as implemented architectural design, funded and to be published by Arkus.

An outline of the survey is being developed right now, to be confirmed with Arkus. First contact with a number of software developers has been made (Autodesk, Paracloud, Bentley/GC) and more is to come. The survey will include documentation of both tools/software and samples from projects.

6. Scheiwiller Svensson R&D.
I have been offered the position of Director of R&D at ssark. I have not yet accepted, but the two main issues that most work out for me to considering accepting, include: – It must not affect the hours I work. – I must be able to use parts of my work as data for my research.

7. Theoretical framework
The theoretical framework must be reformulated, in particular in regards to research methods. As before, Action research and other established fields are relevant. The context of Industrial Engineering and Management must also inform this, in particular in relation to product development and design theory.

Reading will commence, and a seminar based on the licentiate thesis is planned to February.

General research work
I also need to initiate processing of empirical data, including prototypes, references and reading. I foresee a number of parallel activities that support this.

• General documentation on my PhD blog (includes the documentation from AA and reading).
• Writing of paper/article – need to look for a good venue, there are a number of conferences coming up. (NORDES – Nordic Design conference 2009, …)
• Preparation of lectures. I will present the work from the licentiate thesis in a number of venues in the near future, and I hope to be able to establish new lines of thinking based on the old material, suggesting opportunities for the continued work (presenting in the Forum för Industriell Byggnadskonst, at the Architectural Machines at the AA, and in Architectural Technology (KTH-A 5th year)). In addition, the course in ITC I will be doing at Project Communication next fall will be prepared, allowing further integration of my approach with IndEk issues.
• Preparation of the Arkus publication. This work will include both interviews, reading and testing of software. I will write an abstract very soon, to be confirmed by Arkus as well as my advisors.
• Research applications (CRD design research initiation)?