EXC 2120:  Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Transformative Architecture

• Subject Area: Construction Engineering and Architecture ; Geophysics and Geodesy ; Computer Science ; Mechanics and Constructive Mechanical Engineering ; Production Technology ; Social Sciences ; Systems Engineering
• Term: since 2019
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 390831618

The Cluster of Excellence Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Transformative Architecture (IntCDC) aims to lay the methodological foundations for the urgently needed, future-proof and climate-positive transformation of the way buildings are designed and constructed. Based on interdisciplinary and integrative research, IntCDC seeks to harness the full potential of digital technologies to address the severe environmental, economic and social challenges that the building sector is facing. To do so, IntCDC bundles the internationally recognised competencies of the University of Stuttgart, the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and Bauhaus Earth across the fields of architecture, structural engineering, building physics and engineering geodesy, manufacturing and systems engineering, computer science and robotics, social sciences, humanities and economics. In the first funding period, we have established the overarching methodology of Co-Design between the development of computational design and engineering methods, cyber-physical fabrication and construction processes, and sustainable material and building systems. Our building demonstrators have shown how these advancements enable cutting resource consumption by more than 50%, reducing the global warming potential by up to 65%, increasing prefabrication productivity and construction automation well beyond 50%, including new forms of human-machine collaboration, and fostering a digital building culture. In the second funding period, we will build on our achievements to deepen our research and address novel research areas, in order to scientifically contribute to (1) advancing bio-based building materials and enabling resource-efficient, regenerative and carbon-negative built environments, (2) empowering effective, performative and circular computational design and cyber-physical construction for both building anew and in the existing building stock, and (3) engendering affordable, liveable and resilient building cultures. To tackle the related research challenges, our Co-Design methodology empowers us to expand our research approach towards Co-Agency. This significant expansion enables us to go beyond deterministic approaches, integrate the ability for self-learning, achieve higher levels of autonomy and integration, and thus overcome the disjointed attempts at problem-solving still predominant across all areas of design and construction. We expect that IntCDC’s integrative and interdisciplinary research findings will continue to offer profound contributions to addressing the building sector’s severe problems, which incremental approaches simply cannot solve. IntCDC has pushed the University of Stuttgart’s tradition and excellence in our field towards an internationally leading research centre. To further strengthen its anchoring in the university structure, the new faculty-like Stuttgart Center of Integrative Computational Design and Construction will be established.

• DFG Programme: Clusters of Excellence (ExStra)
• Applicant Institution: Universität Stuttgart
• Participating Institution: Bauhaus der Erde gGmbH; c/o Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kropp; Max-Planck-Institut für Intelligente Systeme
• Spokesperson: Professor Achim Menges
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Kai Oliver Arras; Professor Dr.-Ing. Manfred Bischoff; Professor Dr.-Ing. Lucio Blandini; Professorin Dr. Leonie Fischer; Professor Dr.-Ing. Götz T. Gresser; Professor Dr. Philippe Grönquist; Professorin Dr. Katharina Hölzle; Professor Dr.-Ing. Jan Knippers; Professorin Dr. Cordula Kropp; Katherine Kuchenbecker, Ph.D.; Professorin Dr.-Ing. Anja Patricia Regina Lauer; Professor Dr.-Ing. Philip Leistner; Professor Dr. Philipp Misselwitz; Professorin Dr.-Ing. Alina Roitberg; Professor Dr.-Ing. Oliver Sawodny; Professor Dr. Dieter Schmalstieg; Professor Dr.-Ing. Volker Schwieger; Professorin Dr. Franziska Schünemann; Professorin Dr.-Ing. Cristina Tarín Sauer; Professor Dr.-Ing. Alexander Verl; Professorin Dr.-Ing. Christiane Weber; Professor Dr. Daniel Weiskopf; Professor Thomas Wortmann, Ph.D.; Professorin Dr. Doris Österreicher