::: CAAD Futures conference at Université de Montreal, Canada :::

Following an invitation by Temy Tifadi, the conference chair, Emmanuel Ruffo is part of the jury review committe of this year's CAAD Futures conference to be held from June 17 to 19, 2009 at the Université of Montreal in Canada.

The CAAD Futures conference reflects on design methodology and discusses the latest innovations in CAD technology. Most importantly, CAAD Futures is concerned with both the actual technology and the complexities of its use and adaptation in the very human practice of design. The general objectives of the Conference are to provide a forum for presentation of the latest advances in the theory of design and computation; in the reception and transformative effects of computation in design practice, in the technology, instrumentation and media linked to architecture, design, building performance and fabrication; and in design teaching and communication strategies.

The theme of “Joining languages, cultures and visions”, the Conference will add two new aspects to the already established topics of discussion: it will be multidisciplinary and bilingual. The first one is inspired and conditioned by the hosting institution: the Faculté de l’aménagement which is unique in its multidisciplinary character. It unifies disciplines such as Industrial Design, Interior Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, thus promoting exchange and cooperation between them. It provides researchers and students with an environment that is steeped in both humanist and technological modes of inquiry: the CAD Research Group (GRCAO), the Advance Modeling and Rapid Prototyping Lab (Formlab), etc.

::: FFWD COAC EXHIBITION BARCELONA SPAIN :::

Here some pictures of the FFWD Genetic Architectures exhibition held at the Colleague of Architects in Barcelona Spain. The series of physical prototypes displayed at the exhibition are investigations from different architectural design studios at the Genetic Architectures master program at the ESARQ Technical School of Architecture UIC. The core idea of these physical models is to generate dynamic distribution of functions. Architecture should be considered as an evolutionary process of design, material capacities and physical topology. These transformational performances must be contained in a cognitive device either physical or digital.

::: ENTREMUROS : REFORMA NEWSPAPER :::

Emmanuel Ruffo was featured in Entremuros : Reforma Newspaper. The article written by MArch. Arturo Escobar describes quite well the inspiration of both research lines R[e]thinking Architecture and R[e]thinking Academic Series. The article presents investigations related to the practice of Architecture by using EC [Evolutionary Computation] and in the academic field. In this latter field we presented work from the very last workshop run at the Escuela de Arquitectura in the Universidad Anahuac in Mexico. Some of the research teams investigations featured in the article are: 

a) Omkrets Systems by David Levy and Isaac Maya

b) Grid 4da by Maripaz Coto, Jose Semah, Raymond Rophie and Ari Nestel

c) Alberto Romero

d) Marianela Quinzaños, Manuel David and Dany David

Special thanks to MArch. Arturo Escobar and all the Entremuros team for the really nice article and layout design.

::: HABITAT : MAGAZINE :::

Emmanuel Ruffo issued on the Habitat Magazine. Habitat Magazine recognized him as one of the mexican talents who are currently working overseas.

I will soon post more information related to the interesting conversation we held with Habitat magazine.

Here the article in Spanish.

::: EVOLUTIONARY COMPUTATION SERIES : AS PROGRAMMING :::

I am currently working on EC (Evolutionary Computation) by generation of genetic algorithms. The image below represents a series of studios that firstly started for the creation of an interactive, reactive and evolutionary exhibition for a private client in Beijing China.

Genetic algorithms lie in the creation of selection by environment in both intrinsecal and extrinsecal data information, then generation of reproduction, or in this case modifying the new data, and eventually creating a new population. Computer simulations of evolution started in the mid 50´s with Nils Aall Barricelli and then, in late 50´s by an Australian geneticist Alex Fraser by using artificial selection. 

It is call a genetic algorithm to the one used in computing science to figure out approximate solutions to optimization for an evolutionary species. Some concepts that feature genetic algorithms are based in mutation, selection, inheritance and recombination.

Evolutionary computation on the other hand is a branch of artificial intelligence in computer science. It uses interactive procedures such as growth and development of population. Then this population could be selected either random or with specific basis data functions. All of these concepts are inspired by biological systems in a logic and evolutionary development.

::: 1ST PLACE ARPAFIL INTERNATIONAL YOUNG ARCHITECTS COMPETITION :::

Since 19955 ArpaFil is an encounter for Architecture, cultural heritage and arts. Such an important event is one of the biggest in all over the world and it is included as part of the International Fair´s Book held every year in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Guadalajara Scene was, in 2002, the subject for the young architects ArpaFil competition. An auditorium for 20,000 people including a big park for the whole context, parking area and an interactive museum were part of the program to be solved during this year.
As Taller B[e]nstain´s label participant we aimed the first price. The 2002 year participants included single Architects and studios from Argentina, Chile, Italy, the Netherlands, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay and the United States of America.
Our project features were to aim a continuous strategies to integrate past, present and future issues related to the sense behavior. We designed a lightweight structure capable of perceiving all information from the context to be placed for example interactivity passing both intrinsically and extrinsically to the main bubble containing the auditorium. This bubble is capable of color differentiation according to the noise produced by people, artists, walking pedestrians or traffic pollution. The main auditorium is capable to held up to four different events at the same time.

::: CENTER OF TECHNOLOGY FOR LA SALLE UNIVERSITY :::

Emmanuel Ruffo designed a concept and programmatic functions for the new building Centro de Tecnologia [Center of Tecnology] for La Salle Univrersity in Ciudad Obregon, Mexico.
More than an imaginary concept or utopia elements Emmanuel design´s lie in the creation of continuity between what already exists, as part of the main building, and what is going to be new. The project involves a new are for placing the Graphic Design discipline, Robotic engineering and informatics systems. One of the main goals of the design was to intersect these disciplines in the creation of one single building. All the building is the result of single shapes and a continuous translation between vertical and horizontal communication.