Translations
Advanced Digital Fabrication
Fall 2025
Students: Alex Cohen, Bryn Creager, Jorge Gonzalez Bisteni, Brynn Matter-Ramos, Ryan Petrovich, Ari Soloman, Bernardo Urquieta, Kunran Zhao
This course explored the innovative intersection of digital fabrication and traditional masonry, leveraging 3D scanning and parametric modeling to bridge the gap between ancient building techniques and modern design.
By negotiating the natural irregularities of found stones, students gained hands-on experience in clay 3D printing to develop custom ceramic connectors. The research focused on absorbing material tolerances—from the macro scale of the stone to the micro-textures of the printed surface—while precisely accounting for the complexities of ceramic shrinkage during firing.
The semester culminated in a collaborative class installation, demonstrating a high-tech workflow that translated the unpredictability of natural materials into a new masonry for the 21st century.
Fit Check
This project introduces "Stone Stitching" by guiding students through the collection and 3D scanning of natural objects, the computational design and ceramic 3D printing of custom connectors, and the development of a comprehensive documentation workflow for the final review.
Pedestal Possibilities
In this project, pairs designed and built a "geology" of concrete and embedded materials, utilizing advanced fabrication techniques like CNC milling and laser cutting topography to create narrative pedestals for their 3D-scanned objects. By integrating carving and modular design principles, the final compositions were transformed into conceptual architectural systems that explored the relationship between natural textures, irregular forms, and spatial frameworks.
Assemblage Options
Students collaborated to develop a full-scale architectural assembly system by unifying concrete rubble with custom ceramic connectors through specialized research into 3D scanning and digital fabrication. Through rapid prototyping and parallel production, the team constructed a 1:1 physical aggregation and showcased the final design alongside architectural drawings that proposed the system’s integration into a larger building context.
