Architecture Extrapolated (R-Ex) works at the forefront of research in creating augmented construction and design systems combining the best of human skill, digital design, algorithmic translation, and robotic and digital fabrication.

Our research areas expand from basic research in human-machine interaction, and reality computing to work and collaborations with engineers, material scientist, researchers and tradespeople immersed in theoretical and tacit knowledge of building construction. The focus of this collaborations is to explore human-machine collaboration in the high-skill domain of the building trades.

R-Ex aims to merge cutting edge design, engineering and fabrication technologies with traditional craft to produce beautiful, coherent designs. We seek to embrace technology without forgetting the roots.

R-Ex seeks to ‘augment human labour’ not eliminate it, by developing ‘a symbiotic relationship between the human body and the digital tools’ It seeks for opportunities to renew and broaden the possibilities of age-old craft work by digitizing its practice so that it can be both further disseminated and better integrated with novel digital design and fabrication techniques. Combining digital fabrication and manual craft and construction is a crucial aspect in the current context of a culture accustomed to mass production, that now with the advent of digital tools is becoming one of mass-customisation. There can only be mutual benefits on the digitisation of construction to both the upgrading and augmenting of the traditional building trades and the transmission of wisdom of traditional building cultures to digital practice.

R-Ex believes in collaboration as the only means to challenge traditional preconceptions and produce groundbreaking work. We design, build and fabricate through collaborations and are always open to new dialogues.

Full credits

Design

ZHCODE: Filippo Nassetti, David Reeves, Marko Margeta, Shajay Bhooshan, Patrik Schumacher
BRG: Mariana Popescu, Matthias Rippmann, Tom Van Mele, Philippe Block

KnitCrete technology

BRG: Mariana Popescu, Tom Van Mele, Philippe Block
Chair of Physical Chemistry of Building Materials, ETH Zurich: Lex Reiter, Robert Flatt

Fabrication and construction

BRG: Mariana Popescu, Matthias Rippmann, Alessandro Dell’Endice, Cristian Calvo Barentin, Nora Ravanidou
R-Ex: Alicia Nahmad Vazquez, Horacio Bibiano Vargas, Jose Manuel Diaz Sanchez, Asunción Zúñiga, Agustín Lozano Álvarez, Migue Juárez Antonio, Filiberto Juárez Antonio, Daniel Piña, Daniel Celin, Carlos Axel Pérez Cano, José Luis Naranjo Olivares, Everardo Hernández, Ramiro Tena.

Structural engineering

BRG: Andrew Liew, Tom Van Mele

Concrete development

Holcim Mexico: Jose Alfredo Rodriguez, Carlos Eduardo Juarez, Delia Peregrina Rizo

Site construction coordination

R-Ex: Alicia Nahmad Vazquez

Sponsors

COMEX
ETH Zurich
NCCR Digital Fabrication
Zaha Hadid Architects
Steiger Participations SA
Holcim Mexico
Imerys Aluminates
Boston Consulting Group

Special thanks

Grupo Altiva
UNAM Arquitectura