09/10/2020 - 09/09/2020
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Robot demo with our Making Together: for Trades group
Join us Live Streaming on Youtube to see a live demonstration using a design App and an industrial robot to transform some digital designs into reality.
Using the Combinatorial App developed by Automated Architecture (AUAR), this event is the culmination of a project ‘Making Together: for Trades’, a collaboration with AUAR and Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC) that investigated the potentials for digital technologies such as accessible design softwares and robotics for the crafts and trades. AUAR’s approach is heavily focused on collaborative processes that enhance tradespeople’s existing skills with new technologies for safer, more diverse and creative work environments.
The project developed a collaborative, scalable 4-part workshop series that saw its participants, local Bristol residents Caragh Salisbury, Caroline Henn, Ellie Shipman, Jacob Corn, John Bennett, Nick Butler) doing a deep dive into their practice, designing structures on the Combinatorial App, and learning about robotics and the processes required to work with them, alongside wider conversations about automation, technology, and the relation of these to the participants’ own profession and work.
Due to Lockdown, the series initially culminated in an exhibition on Mozilla Hubs, where the designs were shown combined with audio recordings of reflections and thoughts of participants.
View it live from KWMC’s Youtube Channel
Knowle West residents have been busy during COVID-19 lockdown, learning to use new digital design and construction tools.
The result is “Block West”, a temporary pavilion that showcases adaptable building systems and people-friendly technology that can help communities collaborate to create the spaces, homes, and places they need.
Block West is made from a modular building system – called Block Type A – designed by Automated Architecture Labs (AUAR), a research laboratory based at The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL. Block Type A uses a fixed set of Lego-like lightweight plywood building blocks that can be reconfigured into different designs over time without the need for specialised tools or expertise.
Block West was designed by local residents using a new design app developed by AUAR, following a series of online workshops during lockdown. The parts were manufactured in KWMC The Factory using our CNC (computer numerical controlled) machine, and a crew of local people assembled the blocks into the pavilion in under 10 days in September 2020.
