Professor
Seebohm’s research interests involve digital technology
to design a more holistically conceived architecture and urban
environment as is necessary for a more sustainable future.
His current research foci are:
1)
digital architectural design, including digital design in
academic studios and practice
2)
digital lighting design using physically accurate lighting
simulation and rendering software
3)
rule-based form generation
4)
tensegrity structures, their generation, stability, visual
qualities (when supporting light filtering panels), construction
and structural properties
5)
digital urban design with a special interest in the use of
3D, real time virtual city models for designing livable cities
with community participation.
Professor
Seebohm is a pioneer in the use of 3D digital modelling for
the study of architectural and urban history with a special
interest in Palladio and his design principles. Related to
his urban work are research projects involving the linking
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and 3D modeling. He is
the founding director of the Integrated Centre of Visualization,
Design and Manufacturing (ICVDM) a $5.7 million project with
funding from Industry, the Canada Foundation for Innovation
and the Ontario Research and Development Fund. The ICVDM brought
advanced technology for visualization (real time stereo vision)
and rapid prototyping to the School of Architecture at the
University of Waterloo. Professor Seebohm is a registered
architect and professional engineer.
Professor
Seebohm has been involved with digital architectural design
since 1982 and has worked with computers over a period of
more than forty years. He joined the School of Architecture
at the University of Waterloo in 1985. |
Paradigm
Shifts
keynote
lecture
By Thomas Seebohm
School of Architecture, University of Waterloo
Abstract
The intention is to present the paradigm shifts in the role
of digital design and simulation tools and our way of thinking
about these tools and the design process in order to design
a much more sustainable architecture and urbanism than is
currently the case. To do this I will address the following
among other questions: What is architectural design? What
does it mean to design holistically in harmony with nature?
How is designing holistically in harmony with nature different
from and also like traditional architectural design? What
does wholeness mean? What is the relationship between emotional
power and the quantitative in holistic design? How are complex
systems related to wholeness? What is the role of digital
tools in design currently? How are digital tools different
from all other tools? What can their role become to support
digital design? Have the early researchers in computer-aided
design foreseen what is needed for a holistic approach to
design? What is the relationship between research in digital
design and practice? What is the role of popular digital applications
in the use and development of digital design tools as regards
sustainability? What is our human-computer relationship now
and what might it become in digital design? How can this relationship
improve our ability to design a sustainable, healthy, enjoyable
and emotionally uplifting future? How should architectural
curricula change to address the needed paradigm shifts?
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Professor
Tidafi is director and one of the founders (in 1992) of the
Computer Aided Design Research Group (GRCAO) of the School
of architecture, University of Montreal. After having finished
a baccalaureate in architecture and a master degree, he completed
a Ph.D. program in the domain of architectural communication
and the computer modeling tools and methods (University of
Montreal). His current research interests are: (1) Architectural
and archaeological restitution and digital tools; (2) Design
education in architectural studio and digital methods; and
(3) Information modeling at an urban scale. |
New
digital cultures Facing Complexity: Archaeology and Modeling
keynote
lecture
By Professor Temy TIDAFI
Abstract
Complexity
is often addressed in different manners by different schools
of thought. In this lecture, a general introduction will try
to confront some of these differences from theoretical, as
well as from practical point of view.
As an example of a complexity-considering approach, an archaeological
research project will be presented. Its objectives are to
find out how archaeologists could be served more efficiently
by a computer tool in their everyday work. More precisely,
how to design such a tool for architectural restitution purposes
in particular. This goal means confronting aspects of the
complexity of the restitution processes that can vary from
one person to another. This complexity is addressed from a
systemic point of view. A deep understanding of what archaeologists
do and need is also required.
During this research, some questions are asked: What kinds
of information are used by archaeologists? How are they acquired
on the field? How are they processed? What tools are used
for the different purposes? And essentially, what do they
eventually need in order to realize more efficiently some
of their tasks? We try to answer these questions in the context
of an architectural restitution of the historical Temple of
Karnack in Egypt.
A design of a computer tool trying to give some solutions
to the questions we have considered we will be exposed. The
basic principles underlying the conception of a dedicated
and adaptable tool will be discussed. This will lead to a
more theoretical conclusion of the components needed to face
the complexity in archaeology.
Finally, from the experience in Archaeology, we will make
parallels with another discipline: architecture. After all,
making a restitution of a historical building means in part
trying to find out how and in what conditions the builder
has conceived his realization.
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