While diving into programming by discovering Processing we are questioning our design languages as well. Yesterday Pia gave us a brief introduction to parametric design, its roots and research. Although it has gained speed in architecture in the last decade parametric designs logic and base go back to 60’s. At first glance, without any insight, its ground seems to be only into formal explorations and generation of novel geometries. Apparently it enables such innovations, however the benefits and perspectives it provide are far beyond this and it is considered a part of a wider pursuit. 

I guess this lecture opened a new window to the team by providing a better understanding to parametric design that currently compasses architecture visually and even verbally. This, so to say, accelerating dominance of parametric design may obstruct to comprehend its foundation and principles most of the time. During the lecture Pia referred to many significant works containing projects, books and essays that I will be sharing here as well.

Workshop 2 with Frederic was the official end of 2012 at MAS LA, and 2013 just began with an introduction of Module 3 that is tutoring by Pia Fricker and George Munkel from teaching team. M3 focuses on programming language and takes open source Processing as a tool that has been developed by MIT Media Lab in the past decade. Processing enables creating visuals depending on certain parameters, and it is not a common device in landscape architecture at all. In the following 5 weeks we will be in pursuit of the possible intersections of these two.

In parallel to M3 we also started working on final synthesis. This week the first meeting will take place too. For final synthesis that will be the diploma project of MAS LA we are totally free to choose any subject and tool.

Modul 2 ended on Wednesday with the final presentations. I should say that the past five weeks was full of discrete emotions. We came across new software, plugins, even another vocabulary. This was a great challenge for everyone who already has certain design language and accustomed design methodology. This is why we learned a lot.

Another breakthrough was about how we convey the filtered information while presenting. We had to present everything within a video that should not last longer than 5 minute, without us speaking. We led the video talk. This way we could have a chance to talk about the site itself, analysis techniques, opportunities of software and innovative presentation techniques.

Thanks to James Melsom who inspired and enlightened us throughout the module with his presentations and wide range of knowledge.

Differently from the M1, at M2 we will be working on a given site which is determined as Erstfeld, a small town of Canton Uri, 1,5 hour distance from Zurich. Besides its unique geographical characteristic, the settlement is known to be the center of Alp transit -Gotthard Railway. Gotthard Railway is the Swiss trans-alpine railway line from Immensee to Chiasso, and on the border with Italy. Erstfeld situates on this route, and comprises one of the information centers of this infrastructure project. Currently another tunnel project construction is prevailing on the site as well.

This site is chosen not only for the M2 but also for the final synthesis project of the MAS LA program. Yesterday we, together with James and Ilmar, had the first site visit. As soon as we arrived a cloudy sky hiding the enormous verticality encountered us. It was the afternoon when we happened to conceive the real scale of mountain range.