Guillem Baraut / Mattia Gambardella

(Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Architectural Association)

Slender Multistress driven structures

Biomimetics is the application of methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems. The natural evolutionary process has produced optimized structures. By looking at natural systems, the project takes into account diverse evaluation criteria (Structure optimization, topology, circulation).

The methodology chosen field of experimentation was the design of a pedestrian bridge. The defined design methodology creates a framework that combines physical and digital form finding tools the aim of which was to combines stress driven formal solutions in structures with fibre distribution.

Like most of the natural systems the use of fibers and their orientation was a natural way to optimize its structure. Redundant optimum solutions can be considered as a valuable answer to complex structural problem. In order to achieve robust solutions, a criteria similar to selective evolution has been applied to test the different results. Redundant optimization was then considered from diverse points of view such as fiber distribution, topology and connectivity.

Guillem Baraut

(Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Architectural Association)

Guillem Baraut (Civil&Structural MEng, AA EmTech) graduated from the Polytechnic of Barcelona and worked in BOMA SL as a Structural Engineer where now is a Partner. He also studied at the AA in London the MA EmTech, with a dissertation being awarded a Design Merit Award at the latest Feidad edition. He participated in the structural design of the Agbar Tower or the Forum building in Barcelona, and has some teaching experience in Barcelona (MSc UPC, EsArq), London (AA seminars, Bartlett), and Wien (parametric studio, Akademie der Bildenden Künste).

Mattia Gambardella [AA Dipl RIBA II] graduated from the Polytechnic of Milan, studied and worked in Italy, Norway (NTNU) and France before completing his MA program at the Architectural Association in London. He has taught at the London Metropolitan University in London (Diploma Unit 9 - Micro-Environments / Macro-Arrangements) and was visiting tutor at the UCL Bartlett School of Architecture and at the Polytechnic of Milan. His work on Generative Design and Responsive Architecture was presented in Canada (Subtle Technologies Festival) and recently has been awarded a Design Award at the latest Feidad edition in Taiwan.