News Digest of the Mit School of Architecture + Planning

NEWS DIGEST OF THE MIT SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE + PLANNING (A) (B) DIS(COURSE) 4, an installation by James Coleman demonstrates the use MArch students James Coleman, of the new waterjet machine. Andrew Manto and Craig Boney, (Photo: Judith M. Daniels/SA+P) created using the waterjet in the school’s new Digital Fabrication Lab; (C) the sculpture was displayed at the Nick Gelpi’s aluminum ﬂexure cube, Architecture Open House in produced in the new lab, pulses/ﬂexes November. (Photo: Erioseto in response to detected heartbeats. Hendranata) (Photo: Nick Gelpi)

(B) (C)

This spring, as part of MIT’s 150th anniversary celebration, the Institute is sponsoring an ongoing Festival of Arts, Science and THIS FALL, A NEW DIGITAL FABRICATION LAB WAS INSTALLED IN THE

Technology, a ﬁve-month series of events and exhibits occurring DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE THAT ALLOWS M.ARCH. STUDENTS TO EXPLORE

throughout the MIT campus. (For a preview of events, see the NEW ASPECTS OF DESIGN AND FABRICATION THROUGH A COURSE CALLED

foldout in this issue.) ‘HOW TO MAKE (ALMOST) ANYTHING’. The preparation for this festival has brought about a new spirit of teamwork among our faculty in music, theater, architecture, visual arts and the media arts and sciences—a sense of camaraderie that we aim to develop into long-term alliances and continuing collaborations. MAKING ALMOST ANYTHING This development is timely because of recently increased A NEW LAB FOR DIGITAL DESIGN AND FABRICATION attention to the arts at the Institute level, including a new Arts at MIT website that gives enhanced prominence and access to (A) In ‘How to Make (Almost) Anything’, students Yoon took the class herself when she first the wide range of artistic endeavor here. (Take a tour of it here: design and build complete functioning systems arrived at SA+P in 2001 as a new professor. ‘It arts.mit.edu.) single-handedly using a Santa’s workshop full really changed the way I thought about every- of tools for CAD/CAM/CAE, embedded digital thing,’ she says. ‘Both CAD/CAM and fabrica- This new sense of partnership is also timely specifically for processing, laser and waterjet cutting, injec- tion are very normal things for architects to SA+P because of the recent inauguration of our new Media Lab tion molding, 3D printing, circuit design and think about but we’re less accustomed to think- much, much more, creating not only physical ing about how to integrate technologies like Complex, where researchers in the visual arts and media arts form but also logical function through the actuators and microcontrollers, things that can design and construction of circuits with embed- give intelligence to the things we make. By and sciences are now working in close proximity, lending the ded computer chips interfaced with input and bringing together the physical fabrication with arts heightened visibility and a sense of renewed energy. output devices. technological integration, the class really Neil Gershenfeld has offered the course in stretches your grasp, your language.’ Our school has been a leading champion of the arts at MIT the Media Arts and Sciences program for years, Department Head Nader Tehrani concurs, from the Institute’s very beginning, advanced by a long history but this fall he was joined by Meejin Yoon, Nick and considers the course an important asset for Gelpi and Skylar Tibbits to expand the course architecture students because of the general of talented artists and designers whose teaching and research to the curriculum of the Department of Archi- shift in emphasis from disciplinary closure to has played an essential role in the Institute’s mission to build a tecture. While architecture students have often interdisciplinary work. ‘The relationship between enrolled in the course before, enrollment has things and their performance is becoming cen- better society. And as our festival demonstrates this spring, the always been limited to about 15 because of the tral to the way environments work,’ he says. arts continue to thrive here today. We hope you’ll be able to join equipment required. ‘It’s no longer merely about having a room that SA+P’s substantial investment in the new has a light in it, but rather the way in which the us for some of the events we have planned. laboratory allows the class now to accommo- electronic, lighting and mechanical functions date twice the number of students, almost half can create a responsive environment. There’s of whom now come from SA+P—a significant no longer a division between the different dis- expansion of the school’s resources and an impor- ciplines, they are all infused.’ tant commitment to a broadened curriculum. MUCH MUCH MORE ONLINE: SAP.MIT.EDU/PLAN

Adèle Naudé Santos THE SHRINKING CITIES STUDIO A Swarm of Robots to MIT Museum Acquires Clean Up Oil Spills Archives of KMW A NEW COURSE ADDRESSING URBAN A New Idea from the Designers of the ‘Sixth Greatest POPULATION AND HOUSING LOSS Senseable City Lab Building in American History’

A new course in the Department of Urban built fabric is being reduced through demoli- Researchers in SA+P’s Senseable City Lab Pencil sketch of the Back Bay Studies and Planning has taken up the prob- tion, arson and abandonment, creating open have created a prototype robot for a system MBTA Station, which opened in 1987, designed by Kallmann lems of shrinking cities in the US, cities that space in the form of vacant house sites and they call Seaswarm—a fleet of vehicles that McKinnell & Wood. The sketch is have experienced dramatic population and even big industrial parcels, many of which are could make cleaning up future oil spills both part of a recently acquired housing loss in the last 50 years. polluted. The aim of the studio was to address less expensive and more efficient than current collection at the MIT Museum. Initiated last spring by Brent Ryan, newly- the role for urban design in such a situation. skimming methods. (Image: Courtesy of the MIT appointed Assistant Professor of Urban Design In the studio’s first iteration last spring, Unveiled at the Venice Biennale’s Ital- Museum, photographer, Lisa Schuchmann) and Public Policy, the Shrinking Cities stu- students examined the shrinking city of Buf- ian Pavilion in August, the Seaswarm robot dio—one in a series of joint studios offered by falo—1950 population 580,000, current is comprised of a head and a conveyor belt The current housing bust is only the City Design and Development group—drew population 270,000. Students took as their covered with a thin nanowire mesh that can the latest in a series of events graduate students from architecture and plan- theoretical client the city’s Department of absorb up to twenty times its own weight in oil that seem to have conspired ning with experience in design and interest in Housing, and since much of Buffalo’s existing while repelling water. Sixteen feet long and against the city of Buffalo – long-term economic decline housing policy. housing is in poor condition, a central question seven feet wide, the robot uses solar panels The MIT Museum has acquired the archives of stemming from economic-infra- Many of the nation’s older cities have lost was how to design homes in this unusual urban for self-propulsion; with just 100 watts, the Kallmann, McKinnell & Wood Architects, one structural shifts; the suburban- population and housing since 1950. St. Louis condition that’s neither rural, suburban nor equivalent of one household light bulb, it could of Boston’s and the nation’s preeminent archi- ization of the middle class; the lost 60% of its population from 1950–2000. fully urban. In essence, students were looking potentially clean continuously for weeks. tectural practices. nationwide shift toward Sunbelt cities; racial polarization and Detroit went from 1.8M to 900,000; Balti- for a new understanding of what ‘urbanity’ is. The vehicle works rather like a rolling car- The highly respected firm began in 1962 segregation; and globalization. more from 950,000 to 650,000. And most of The scale of the studio was broad; students pet riding over the waves. Stretched across when the City of Boston selected the design of Below, a map of the city showing these cities have lost equivalent numbers of considered city-level design strategies, as well rollers, the belt propels the unit through the the new City Hall by Kallmann McKinnell and the percentage of parcels vacant, housing units. as new neighborhood form and the design of water while skimming its surface, then cycles Knowles in a nation-wide competition involv- and proposed demolitions. The situation presents special problems housing clusters. Each proposal examined a through the vehicle’s head where the oil is ing 286 architects. (Henry Wood joined the (Image: Courtesy of Shrinking Cities Studio) for urban designers—who traditionally focus different condition of the Buffalo cityscape, heated to separate it from the mesh. The belt firm in 1965.) The building received instant on how to structure growth—because in these considering elements like the city’s deterio- then rotates back into the water to collect national and international recognition and, in cities growth is not the problem: most of their rated residential fabric, its broad networks of more oil. In one design, the robots would burn a poll of architects and historians sponsored by rail and roadway infrastructure, and the Buf- the oil on the spot so they can continue work- the AIA, it was voted the sixth greatest build- falo River, a de-industrialized area lined with ing uninterrupted. Another design would have ing in American History. abandoned grain elevators. the robots occasionally break away to deposit From that spectacular beginning through One proposal restructured heavily aban- their oil in large floating reservoirs from which its decades of work in civic, institutional and doned neighborhoods around new civic spaces tankers could collect it later for reuse. academic architecture, KMW has developed and community buildings along an underused Produced in large numbers, each unit could an international reputation for excellence in rail line. Another reorganized the city’s monot- cost about $20K, meaning a leak on the scale design and project management. Led by found- onous grid as a highly differentiated street net- of the BP spill could be contained for $100M ing principals Gerhard M. Kallmann and N. work with new housing patterns. to $200M. According to project leader Assaf Seaswarm is intended to work as Michael McKinnell, the firm has won Boston’s a fleet, or ‘swarm’ of vehicles, A third proposal reoriented a partially Biderman, the device will be ready to deal Harleston Parker Award six times for design of which communicate their location abandoned neighborhood toward an active with oil spills in about a year. To see a video of through GPS in order to create an ‘the most beautiful building’ in Boston’s met- transit line and surviving institutions along a the robot in action, visit senseable.mit.edu/ organized system for collection ropolitan area. (Since the award was created new open space network. And a fourth pro- seaswarm/. that can work continuously in 1923, no other architect has won the medal without human support. (Project: jected a new residential environment into the MORE ONLINE: SAP.MIT.EDU/PLAN that many times.) In 1984, KMW received the Senseable City Lab, Image: Adam ‘monumental wilderness’ of the Buffalo River, Pruden) AIA Firm of the Year Award, noting ‘the firm’s using landscape as a filtration method for this capacity to produce work of human value and polluted waterway. lasting significance’. It has also received 8 AIA Each proposal provided a vision for a new Honor Awards, 3 AIA/Brick In Architecture neighborhood that was also an attempt to rei- Awards and 18 design awards from the BSA. magine what the urban design of a shrinking The archives, which is being transferred to American city can be. To examine the pro- MIT in stages, includes thousands of drawings, posals more closely, visit shrinkingcitystudio. models, photos and office records. Parts of the wordpress.com. collection are already accessible for research The studio continues this spring with a focus and teaching – some of it will also go online in on Baltimore. the near future – and the entirety of the collec- MUCH MORE ONLINE: SAP.MIT.EDU/PLAN tion, after a period of cataloguing and scanning, will be publicly accessible. MORE ONLINE: SAP.MIT.EDU/PLAN Architecture Grad Honored Sound Shapes + Ear Dances with Residency in Paris A Tribute to Pioneering Sound REAL ESTATE CENTER MARKS A MILESTONE A Triumphant Tale of Two Artist Maryanne Amacher Alums and Our Growing THREE DAYS OF ANNIVERSARY FESTIVITIES BSAD Program

A scholarship established by alumnus Tony Tappé Between 1967 and 1981, (MArch’58/MCP’58) has led to a great opportu- Amacher produced 22 City- Links projects in total, relaying (Top) nity for recent alumna Amanda Levesque sounds from one or more remote Former and current center chair- (BSAD’10). In an impressive vote of confidence environments ‘live’ to the exhibi- men (from left to right) Blake about her talent and potential, Levesque has tion space as an ongoing sonic Eagle, Larry Bacow, Founder Hank been granted a three-month residency, all environment. At right, Amacher Spaulding, Current Chairman Tony expenses paid, at the Cité Internationale des at work. (Photo: Peggy Weil) Ciochetti, Tom Steele and Profes- sor James McKellar. (Photo: Sue Arts in Paris next year, to work on any project(s) Kowalski/Sue K Photography) of her choosing. Levesque credits her success, in part, to the interdisciplinary nature of her (Bottom Right) undergraduate work here. Mike Smith, MIT/CRE Class of In October, the MIT Program in Art, Culture 1987, is the winner of the The generous honor was granted by the Fon- Spaulding Award for Noth tainebleau Schools of Fontainebleau, France, an and Technology (ACT) presented a tribute to Bethesda Center, a 2.7 million 85-year-old program that brings students from pioneering sound artist Maryanne Amacher on square foot, mixed-use transit- different disciplines together to explore new the first anniversary of her death. During the oriented project located adjacent ways of seeing, thinking and making architec- 1970s, Amacher was a fellow at the Center for to the North Bethesda Metro Station in suburban Washington, Advanced Visual Studies—a precursor of ture. Each year the school selects 15 to 25 fine D.C. This 14-story office building is arts students from around the world to explore ACT—and her work was strongly influenced by the first of three planned office the relationship between music and architecture, its founder, the Hungarian artist and educator towers in the NBC project. and develop collaborative projects. This year Gyorgy Kepes. (Image: Courtesy of Mike Smith) The Center for Real Estate celebrated its 25th building’s life. there were 21 students of architecture and 35 As a seminal figure in electroacoustics anniversary this fall with three days of festivi- Ochsendorf was followed by SA+P’s Sandy music students and at the end of the session, and architectural installation, Amacher worked ties including a dinner for industry partners at Pentland, Director of MIT’s Human Dynamics Levesque was singled out for her exceptional extensively with otoacoustic emission, a physi- the MIT Museum, a day-long conference held Lab, talking about how buildings are used, showing there. As a result, she will also serve as ological phenomenon in which the ears them- atop the new Media Lab Complex and a black- and how that use can be coordinated and TA for next year’s architecture program. selves act as sound generating devices. She tie gala at Boston’s InterContinental Hotel reorganized to make buildings more efficient Levesque attended the school on a $5K researched sound in its spatial dimension and attended by more than 280 alumni, students, and productive. Following the conference, scholarship from alumnus Tony Tappé, who him- relation to time and composed several ‘ear faculty and friends. guests were offered the chance to tour SA+P’s self took part in the program as a graduate stu- The Fontainebleau summer dances’ designed to stimulate ‘ear tones’, clear Founded in the 1980s as the Center for Real new Media Lab Complex, as well as MIT’s new program involves four weeks of dent at MIT and found it so worthwhile that he third tones resonating within the listener’s Estate Development, MIT/CRE was the brain- Koch Cancer Institute and the new Sloan design charettes at the child of Charles ‘Hank’ Spaulding, who collabo- School Expansion. now underwrites two students every year – one Chateau Fontainebleau, a ears. rated with John de Monchaux, then dean of The following night, guests at the gala were from MIT and one from the Boston Architec- Unesco World Heritage site Although not known by a wider audi- tural College where his son went to school; 60km southeast of Paris. A ence, her work was recognized with important SA+P, and MIT Professor Lawrence Bacow, treated to a video look back at the Center’s his- Colin Booth won the BAC scholarship this year. former residence of kings and awards and grants from such organizations now president of Tufts University, to establish a tory through the eyes of some of its founders, emperors, the Chateau is Tappé has been a notably generous annual donor as the Guggenheim Foundation, the National first-rate graduate education and research pro- alumni and current staff and featuring some of situated on the site of a royal gram in real estate. More than 800 graduates the major projects on which alumni have to SA+P for over thirty years, supporting schol- hunting lodge built sometime Endowment for the Arts, the New York Foun- arships, fellowships and activities throughout before the 12th century and dation for the Arts, the Pew Memorial Trust of the Center are now working in countries worked. You can watch the video online at tech- the school. surrounded by one of the and the Foundation for Contemporary Perfor- around the world. tv.mit.edu/collections/sap:885. country’s most beautiful With an overflow crowd of nearly 300 MUCH MUCH MORE ONLINE: SAP.MIT.EDU/PLAN mance Arts; in 2005 she was awarded the Prix forests. (Photo: Courtesy of guests, the anniversary conference in October Amanda Levesque) Ars Electronica. While at MIT, Amacher worked on a included a session focused on re-engineering series of installations called City-Links, using buildings, FM-quality phone lines to transmit sounds a particularly important topic since 39% of from remote locations into galleries, auditoria all energy consumed in the US Is consumed and radio broadcasts. In October, an exhibition by buildings. (When the energy required to at New York City’s Ludlow 38/Kuenstlerhaus manufacture the buildings’ steel, glass and Stuttgart brought together images and sound concrete is factored in, the percentage climbs to samples in a retrospective look at this impor- nearly 65%.) tant but little published series of early telem- How to reduce that excessive consumption atic art works. through better design was the focus of a talk by MORE ONLINE: SAP.MIT.EDU/PLAN SA+P’s John Ochsendorf, Associate Professor of Building Technology, about MIT initiatives to aid architects and builders with life cycle planning for buildings, aiming to develop ways to reduce emissions and costs at every stage of a (B) (C) (D)

THIS COMING SPRING, AS MIT CELEBRATES ITS 150TH ANNIVERSARY WITH 150

DAYS OF EVENTS AND EXHIBITS TO HONOR THE INSTITUTE’S PAST AND ENVISION

ITS FUTURE, THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE + PLANNING WILL ALSO BE MARKING

A LANDMARK ANNIVERSARY—ITS 145TH, ALMOST A SESQUICENTENNIAL—AND

PLAYING A CENTRAL ROLE IN THE INSTITUTE’S FESTIVITIES.

THE MIT150 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 150 DAYS OF EVENTS, EXHIBITS, SYMPOSIA AND SURPRISES

Extending from January 7 to June 5, the over Killian Court. ties of the Institute. THE INFINITE CORRIDOR (A) MIT150 celebration will prominently fea- Other SA+P contributions to the festivities Another element of the anniversary will A virtual version of the real thing—a setting Light Drift by J. Meejin Yoon and Eric Howeler, a nighttime art for conversation among MIT people worldwide. ture a Festival of Arts, Science and Technol- will include the US premiere of Machover’s be the MIT Global Challenge, an annual installation of 90 glowing orbs, will ogy (FAST) headed by SA+P’s Tod Machover, opera Death and the Powers at Boston’s Cut- competition to foster connections between MIT be featured on May 7 as part of a series of presentations that will appear ler Majestic Theater, in conjunction with the students, alumni, faculty, staff and affiliates INTERACTIVE WEB-BASED TIMELINE the culmination of MIT’s Festival throughout the spring semester, and through- American Repertory Theater; and a month- around the world; the contest will provide up to A dynamic experience for users—with images, of Art, Science and Technology. (Photo: Jeff Wolfram) out the MIT campus, and highlight the efforts long exhibition in SA+P’s Wolk Gallery, dis- $25K in implementation grants to teams that sound and video—marking the achievements of of several from SA+P. playing the winning entries from the Lobby submit the best proposals for solving today’s MIT and its people during its first 150 years. (B) The most extensive contribution from 7 Design Competition headed by Associate urgent challenges. Tachistoscope by Joel Lamere and SA+P will be an ‘animated campus’ curated by Dean Mark Jarzombek. The competition chal- THE PUBLICATION OF TWO BOOKS Cynthia Gunadi, one of three Meejin Yoon that will feature arts and lenged students to complete the plinths in OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE Becoming MIT: Moments of Decisions edited installations in the series by David Kaiser, Associate Professor of Sci- Scoposcopy, proposed for the architectural installations and interventions the corners of the lobby, originally intended CELEBRATION INCLUDE: Infinite Corridor as part of the throughout the Cambridge campus, trans- as bases for statues of Aristotle, Ictinus, Archi- ence, Technology and Society and Senior festival. (Project and image: forming it incrementally leading up to a grand medes and Callicrates. MIT150 WEBSITE Lecturer in Physics; and A Widening Sphere: Gunadi Lamere Design) finale on May 7. The transformation will begin Also, as part of a series of events exploring At which visitors have access to interviews, Evolving Cultures at MIT, authored by Philip (C) in February with a series of indoor installa- MIT’s unique tradition in the arts, Joe Paradiso historical information and conversation among Alexander, Research Associate, Program in A scene from Tod Machover’s new tions that will start to appear along the Infi- will lead a panel exploring the history of elec- MIT community members and friends. Writing and Humanistic Studies. opera, Death and the Powers, nite Corridor, transforming everyday spaces to tronic music at MIT, while Caroline Jones will receiving its US premiere in March create a sense of wonder or to reveal some- lead a panel on systems, art, process and the MIT150 INFINITE HISTORY PROJECT For more information on the MIT150 celebra- as part of the festival. thing that’s usually ignored. social. For a full rundown on FAST events, visit An online collection of more than 150 hours of tion, visit mit150.mit.edu. (Photo: Jonathan Williams)

As the weather warms, bigger installations arts.mit.edu/fast/. video interviews with people who have shaped (D) will begin to appear outdoors, often dealing The MIT150 celebration will also include MIT, or who have been shaped by it. voltaDom by Skylar Tibbits, an more explicitly with technology. Yoon plans a formal convocation, in full academic regalia, installation proposed for the to install a screen of micro wind turbines under at the Boston Convention and Events Center, SIX SYMPOSIA passageway between Buildings 56 the Green Building where the wind will spin open to the public; an open house at which Highlighting some of the Institute’s important and 66, investigating a new typology of vaulted surfaces. them and light them up; Sheila Kennedy has the public can tour MIT’s facilities and see research in economics and policy; integrative (Image: Skylar Tibbits) proposed a series of solar rockers that will where the daily work gets done; and an exhibit cancer research; women in science and engi- light up at night; and Otto Piene will light at the MIT Museum featuring 150 evoca- neering; the age of computation; exploration up the sky with one of his inﬂatable stars tive objects, curated with the aid of the MIT of earth, air, sea and space; and brains, minds community to reﬂect the extraordinary quali- and machines.

(A) GUASTAVINO VAULTING: THE ART OF STRUCTURAL TILE A NEW BOOK FROM JOHN OCHSENDORF

A new book from SA+P’s John Ochsendorf traces the development of the Rafael Guasta- vino family, a father/son team of immigrants whose ingenious ‘Tile Arch System’ enabled architects to create dramatic domed ceilings in such major landmarks as Grand Central Termi- nal, Carnegie Hall, the Biltmore Estate, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the Registry Hall at Ellis Island and many major university buildings. In the late 19th and early 20th century, the Guastavinos were responsible for designing tile vaults in nearly a thousand buildings around the world, vaults that are among the most dar- ing masonry structures of all time, but the firm’s accomplishments have remained rela- tively unknown to the public, primarily because the Guastavinos served only as contractors on the projects. Ochsendorf is on a mission to change that. His new book, Guastavino Vaulting—lavishly illustrated with color photographs by Michael (Top) Freeman—traces the development of the Vaulted Staircase, Baker House, remarkable construction technology from its Carnegie Mellon University, Mediterranean roots to its highest achieve- Guastavino Company for Henry ments in the United States. Guastavino vaults in the Boston Public Library, Hornbostel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylva- nia, 1914. (Photo: Michael It features archival images, drawings and noting that there are seven types of vaulting in Freeman) beautiful color photography showcasing the the library and that these were the first of most spectacular of the vaulted spaces; an Guastavino’s vaults in which the tiles were left (Bottom) extensive appendix lists the addresses of all exposed, rather than plastered over, introduc- City Hall Subway Station, New ing a new element of the decorative to their York. Guastavino Company for known extant Guastavino vaults, over six hun- Heins and LaFarge, New York, New dred masterpieces small and large. work. He also noted that the Guastavino vaults York, 1903. (Photo: Michael In November, Ochsendorf presented his could be built with no formwork for support, a Freeman) book on Guastavino vaults beneath actual technology actually developed in North Africa that can be found throughout the Mediterra- nean. But wherever it’s found, he said, it is claimed by the locals as their own. In addition to his book and lectures, Och- sendorf has initiated the Guastavino Project at MIT, dedicated to documenting and preserving the Guastavino vaults, many of which have been destroyed. And Guastavino scholars in the United States are now planning a major exhibition in 2012 that will bring together scholars from around the world. To learn more: www. guastavino.net. John Ochsendorf is an associate professor of building technology in the Department of Architecture, specializing in the history and technology of historic structures. He was the first engineer to be awarded a Rome Prize (2007) and the first structural engineer to be awarded a MacArthur Fellowship (2008). INTRODUCING TWO NEW FACULTY Teaching Biology Quantifying Human Behavior with Technology A $10M Grant to Study Autism NERI OXMAN AND CÉSAR HIDALGO A $2M Grant from the Spectrum Disorders JOIN THE MEDIA LAB National Science Foundation

César A. Hidalgo has been appointed to the Media Lab researchers Rosalind Picard, Mat- Asahi Broadcast Corporation Career Devel- thew Goodwin and Rana el Kaliouby, along with opment Chair in the Media Arts and Sciences collaborators at five other institutions, have Program. Hidalgo heads the Macro Connec- received a $10M Expeditions Award from the tions Group, which focuses on the development National Science Foundation to develop tech- of analytical tools to improve our understand- nologies for measuring and analyzing behavior ing of the world’s macro structures in all of during face-to-face social interactions. their complexity. His goal is to help improve The collaboration is the first large-scale understanding of the evolution of prosperity in effort of computer and behavioral scientists to order to help develop industrial policies that jointly address diagnosing and intervening early can help countries raise the living standards of in the lives of those with Autism Spectrum Dis- their citizens. His areas of application include Eric Klopfer, Director of the Scheller Teacher In order to ease its integration orders (ASD), a group of complex neurodevel- Education Program in the Department of Urban into schools, and enhance economic development, systems biology and scalability, the simulation opmental disorders that cause social, communi- social systems. Studies and Planning, has received a grant of activities will be facilitated by a cation and behavioral impairments in both Before joining MIT, Hidalgo was an adjunct $2M from the National Science Foundation for new web-based version of children and adults. lecturer in public policy at Harvard’s John a four-year collaboration with the University of StarLogo TNG, a modeling tool By combining computer science and behav- that does not require advanced F. Kennedy School of Government and a Pennsylvania to improve the teaching of biology ioral science, the project aims to create an at the high school level. His colleague at Penn is mathematics or programming research fellow at Harvard’s Center for Inter- skills. (Image: Courtesy of Eric entirely new field of inquiry—computational national Development. A native of Santiago Susan Yoon, a former MIT postdoc, in the Grad- Klopfer) behavior science. Just as medical imaging such de Chile, he holds a PhD in physics from the uate School of Education. as MRIs or X-rays have allowed doctors to iden- The grant funds the development of an intro- (Top) University of Notre Dame and a bachelor’s tify and treat previously unobservable prob- Neri Oxman has been appointed to the Sony ductory biology unit using computer simulations Beast (2008) by Neri Oxman, Career Development Chair in the Media Arts degree in physics from the Pontificia Univer- lems—a brain tumor, aneurysm, a broken prototype for a chaise that adjusts as a way for students to build their understand- and Sciences Program. Oxman directs the sidad Catolica de Chile. He is also a graphic- bone—computational behavior science aims to its shape, flexibility and softness to ing of topics ranging from the origins of life to Mediated Matter research group, exploring art enthusiast and has published and exhibited quantify behavioral dynamics in a concrete and fit each person who sits in it; made artwork that uses data collected originally for molecular biology, ecology and evolution. The objective way. from eight materials of varying how digital design and fabrication technolo- material will be presented from the perspective flexibility, it hugs your body, scientific purposes. Over the past several years, Media Lab gies mediate between matter and environment of complex systems, helping students understand reacting to each movement. One to transform the design and construction of researchers have developed a number of tech- design magazine compared it to a how the rules that govern individual units scale objects, buildings and systems. Oxman’s goal nologies to track and measure emotional states ‘really excellent lover’. (Photo: up to system behavior, and how they reflect such and, working with the ASD community, have Courtesy of Neri Oxman) is to enhance the relationship between the basic principles as randomness and equilibrium. refined them into specialized tools. These tech- built and the natural environments by utilizing Each of the topics will entail simulation- (Bottom Right) design principles inspired by nature, and imple- nologies include wearable physiological sensors Rankings (2009), artwork by César based activities to fit with both the biology con- menting them in inventing digital design tech- and corresponding software that can be used to Hidalgo, emphasizes the aesthetic tent and the systems principles. In a simulation nologies. Areas of application include product measure variables such as heart rate and skin value of modern scientific of evolution, for instance, a student might see conductivity, indicators of internal stress and visualizations by presenting them and architectural design, as well as digital fab- rabbits on the screen, each governed by certain in the absence of scientific arousal. The technologies provide new, more rication and construction. rules regarding their characteristics, and by meaning; this figure was created by Oxman received her PhD in design compu- precise ways to understand behavior and will distorting a rankplot summarizing tweaking the simulation see which rabbits thrive tation as a Presidential Fellow at MIT, where help individuals with ASD communicate cogni- the evolution of countries’ and which fail under various circumstances. tive and emotional states, as well as help oth- economic complexity for a period she developed the theory and practice of mate- Students will use not only pre-built simula- of 42 years. (Image: Courtesy of ers—scientists, therapists, teachers, caregiv- rial-based design computation. In this approach, tions but also create their own. The intention is César Hidalgo) ers—to understand those states. the shaping of material structure is conceived for them to learn about the content area while of as a novel form of computation. Prior to at the same time picking up design and pro- The Media Lab team will apply MIT, she earned her diploma from the Archi- gramming skills and exercising their creativity, its expertise to capturing behavior data accurately and non- tectural Association (RIBA 2) after attending as well as learning how simulations are used the Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning invasively, resulting in a more in scientific research. Ultimately the aim is to objective, data-driven approach at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, explore the use of technology in teaching and to behavioral assessment. and the Department of Medical Sciences at the learning to improve how any subject might be Pictured here, a wristband that Hebrew University in Jerusalem. taught. captures various types of physiological data such as movement, MORE ONLINE: SAP.MIT.EDU/PLAN temperature and electrodermal activity, the peripheral measure of the sympathetic nervous system, otherwise known as the ‘fight or flight’ response. (Photo: MIT Media Lab) (B) (C)

THE MEDIA LAB TURNS 25

A DAY-LONG EVENT EXPLORING THE LAB’S FAMED CULTURE OF INNOVATION

(D) (A) This fall, the Media Lab celebrated its 25th With much of the day’s discussion focused The afternoon’s session with Hockenberry (A) anniversary with a day-long event featuring on the creative culture that has been devel- featured interviews and presentations with The Never-Ending Drawing Machine, an immersive, creative experience demonstrations of current research, presen- oped at the Lab, it was also notable how many such Lab luminaries as Andrew Lippman, Mar- blending physical and digital tations by faculty and alums and a series of speakers made reference to the space the vin Minsky and Rosalind Picard; former MIT techniques for story creation, interviews conducted by NPR host John Hock- Media Lab occupies and the importance of President Charles Vest; and Media Lab founder developed as a platform for enberry that sought to articulate the Lab’s its effect on their work. The new building by Nicholas Negroponte. Another highlight of the co-creative and collaborative play. famed culture of innovation. Fumihiko Maki, in which the event was dra- afternoon was Hockenberry’s discussion with (Photo: Judith M. Daniels/SA+P) Founded in 1985 by Nicholas Negroponte matically staged, was repeatedly praised for its Eric Schmidt, chairman and CEO of Google— (B) and Jerome Wiesner—former MIT president high degree of transparency, allowing faculty the only Media Lab ‘outsider’—invited because, The Creation Station, a tabletop and science adviser to JFK—the Media Lab and students to effectively peek over each oth- according to Negroponte, of all the companies computer that creates a perceptual traces its origins to the Architecture Machine ers’ shoulders, facilitating an unusual degree in the field, Google has affected lifestyle the overlap between virtual and physical environments; while one person is Group of MIT’s Department of Architecture, of interaction and cross-fertilization—an envi- most over the last 15 years. drawing spiders, another could run a think tank/laboratory established in 1968 ronment that Maki himself traces back to the Between talks, visitors were given a chance around stomping on them. (Photo: to focus on the then-new field of computer- student-made mezzanines in the MIT architec- to explore the work of the Lab’s 23 research Andy Ryan) aided design. The Media Lab has since gone ture department of the 1970s. groups, which includes over 350 research proj- on to develop a parade of technological break- The anniversary event began with a 5x5 ects. Using RFID name badges issued at the (C) Leah Buechley demonstrating throughs in areas ranging from cognition and session, hosted by Lab Director Frank Moss, in door, they were able to interact with touch- and Electronic Popables, an interactive learning to holography, wearable computing, which five alums from five different eras of the presence-sensitive screens that present infor- pop-up book that sparkles, sings and wireless ‘viral’ communications, sociable media, Lab’s history reminisced about the activities mation at the entrance to each research lab; moves. (Photo: Andy Ryan) new forms of artistic expression and pioneer- that helped define its creative environment. when they approached one of the screens, they (D) ing interfaces that seamlessly merge the physi- That session was followed by presentations were recognized by their RFID name tag and Media Lab spin-off Harmonix Music cal and digital worlds. from the Lab’s five newest faculty members, given the option to view project demos, then to Systems provided party attendees a Given the scope of work done at the Lab, all rising stars in their respective fields. Ed bookmark and save research projects to a down- chance to try out the company’s two people are sometimes surprised to find that it Boyden spoke of his work on optogenetics, an loadable personalized portfolio of their visit. newest releases, Dance Central resides in the School of Architecture + Planning, approach that could lead to new treatments for The event was covered extensively in the (far-left screen) and Rock Band 3 (center and far-right screens), before so it was interesting to note at the anniversary Parkinson’s, epilepsy and other brain diseases. press with fascinated accounts of the details they are available to the public. event the frequent references to architecture Ramesh Raskar talked about his work devel- that caught the various journalists’ eyes, (Photo: Andy Ryan) and its importance to the success of the Lab. oping cameras that can see around corners, in including how the Lab came to be known as According to Negroponte, the culture of actu- the world at large or inside the human body, the Media Lab; how the Lab operates to maxi- ally building things at the Lab, a fundamental and in near-total darkness. And Leah Buechley mize its effect; the Lab’s predictions on the aspect of the Lab’s approach, grew directly talked up the Living Wall—wallpaper covered future; and practical advice from the vision- from the Lab’s origins in the architecture in conductive paint that contains LEDs and aries for technology-solution providers. Much department. Likewise, the atelier model of Bluetooth, so it can communicate with nearby of the coverage also included slideshows and teaching—apprentices working together with devices such as lamps and window shades. Also videos of technical demonstrations. To peruse masters, learning by osmosis—grew from the included in that session were the Lab’s most the reports, visit sap.mit.edu/news_events/ Lab’s roots in architectural pedagogy. recent hires, Neri Oxman and César Hidalgo, press_clips/. both introduced elsewhere in this issue. MORE ONLINE: SAP.MIT.EDU/PLAN Nagashima) (Photo: Courtesy of Masanori his generosity, asdoes MIT’. survive at MIT. I really appreciate possible,’ says Ishii, ‘for me to encouragement, ‘which made it offering invaluable advice and has beenagreatmentortohim, sciences, reports that Nagashima Ishii, professor of media arts and back to MIT in many ways. Hiroshi Masanori Nagashima has given Photo: Satten ofNorma Courtesy Andy Lippman, Chris Herot, Mike Miller,Herot,Lippman,MikeChris Andy Seth were industry building the and Architecture studyingstudent a wasago,years I 40 Around Masanori Nagashima (MArch ’76) is a major major a is ’76) (MArch Nagashima Masanori Professor Nicholas Negroponte is the person I personthe ProfessorNegroponteNicholasis Professor NicholasNegroponte. School of Management. I was deeply impressed Habraken John 1975 In on. so and Steinberg Room in the new Media Lab Complex. He is is He Complex. Lab Media new the in Room Who andwhatwasmemorable aboutSA+P? Why didyou decidetostudyatSA+P? Below, a brief Q&A about his experience at MIT MIT at experience his about Q&A brief a Below, MASANORI NAGASHIMA, M.ARCH. ’76 DONOR PROFILE: PIONEERING COMPUTER-AIDEDDESIGN famous engineering school in USA, and I got I and USA, in school engineering famous way of thinking when it comes to what is most iswhat tocomes thinkingitwhen of way was puzzled that there were no CAD systems in motn i ec crusac. hr were There circumstance. each in important I when But MIT. at design architectural in Chairman of Informatix, a company that devel that company a Informatix, of Chairman scratch, suchas Tokyo, afterthe World War II. industries. management facility and struction nick. Their lectureswere wonderful. Conference Nagashima Masanori the named rie a te eatet fAcietr, I Architecture, of Department the at arrived CAD study could I that impression strong a architecture at the University of Tokyo in Japan. after: and lo o ay aal ad trcie people: attractive and capable many so also the MIT Architecture Machine Group and met and Group MIT the Machine Architecture there.studio However,design the foundsoon I es ulig ein ee i Jpn I really I Japan. in even design, building tems tecture.well-knowna forwas sys figure He the graduate student financial support and having having and support financial student graduate have to list first. I was very impressedhaveveryfirst.listwashis withto I for Lab Media the in fund a established having ops software for architectural, engineering, con engineering, architectural, for software ops enjoyed attending his class. In order to study on period, that around on work to fields exciting ues o acietrl ein MT a the was MIT design. architectural for puters com in interest an developed I But popular. y rfsos on ooa ad tat Mad Stuart and Donovan John professors by Archi of Department the of head the became from cities many so build to had we because donor to the School of Architecture + Planning, Planning, + Architecture of School the to donor optr, to sm cass t h Sloan the at classes some took I computers, Around that time, computer itself was not was itself computer time, that Around ------hogot or iead seily as especially life—and your Throughout 1980. In October 1981, I came back to Japan to (ARC). We produced the commercial CAD soft CAD commercial the (ARC). produced We rhtcue Machinations Architecture s mnind ale, suid architecture studied earlier, mentioned I I As When I arrived at MIT in 1974, I found MIT found I 1974,in MIT at arrived I When My time at MIT is so-to-speak an epoch-making ihls erpne rvdd e jb s a as job a me provided Negroponte Nicholas What isyour advice for new graduates? yourmakegenerousyoutogift toled What your successes? your

very active and exciting.isrealized activethisandsoon very I valuablecustomers forGIS.andCAD areThey or ots Ncoa woe bu ti i the in this about wrote Nicholas months. four will continue to come up with more innovativemorewith up come continueto will withproblems solved.beto hopedothatI they accom to want they what trying on keep will warecalled GeneralDrafting System (GDS)in ward totheresultswithenthusiasm.…’ himn f nomtxwa hv been have Informatix—what of Chairman SA+P? Why didyou choosetogive for gradu including intheUS. is the origin of Informatix Inc. GDS was sold not four MAS:‘MAS’s nickname my usingissue), ot adoe optradd architecture computer-aided handsome most the of one to lead should appointment month solutions. some timeago! serve themwithoursystems. up this sort of opportunityhaveforstudentsofto sort this up to proud am I and day everysystem our using across the Architecture Machine Group at MIT.at Group Machine the Architecture across thesimilar exciting experience that I had there came I because computing to switched then Ltd Cambridge of Research Applied at team development the in was I UK. Cambridge to technicalassistant at AMGfrom June 1976 for INTERVIEW human programming abilities and can look for look can and abilities programming human only in the UK and Japan, but also worldwidealso Japan,but and UK the in only ects every year nowadays. We have thousands of establishcompanya selling GDSJapan.in This ls, ic te land t I hw o cope to how MIT at learned they sinceplish, periodinlife. my Itherefore want to help open packages around. We all recognize MAS’s super- eas te epe vr hr ae cie and active are there over people the because ate ﬁnancialsupport? doing exciting things. I hope that new graduates At Informatix, we are doing nearly 200 proj 1976,movedlateCambridgefromIn I MA

STEPHANIE

HATCH My 3 1976 23, (May - - - - -

Design: Philographica, Brookline, MA of EllenLou) benefit. (Photo: Courtesey public create to interests development guiding in and contexts planning urban challenging address to ideas innovative developing in skilled especially planner, is city Lou Ellen certified and architect licensed A ‘THERE ISNOT ONESET WAY OF Year, from the AIA California Council; in a press ALUMNA PROFILE: (SOM), Ellen Lou (MCP’85/SMArchS’85) (MCP’85/SMArchS’85) Lou Ellen (SOM), Analysis at Planning and Design Urban of Director As ELLEN LOU(MCP’85, SMARCHS’85) MIT taught me a way of thinking creatively and Planning in Developing Countries, Developing in Planning Pacific Rim countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, SA+P alumnus Louis Skidmore ’23 and Nathan by 1936 in founded originally firm the SOM, Lou now works in the San Francisco office of Franciscooffice San the in works now Lou zine. zine. But MIT was different. In her architecture stud

was a dramaticdifference,’a was says.she learned‘I iel Owings (John O. Merrill, Sr. ’19 became a Merrill,Sr.becameO. (John ’19 Owings iel am I today still and issues those in involved compulsorytwoclassesonlyin hadand she ies MIT of learned universities. ‘I on information LLP Merrill and Owings Skidmore, firm ing China andthePhilippines. China still remember the issues it raised. It taught me ra pann, ny he cr courses.‘That core three planning, only urban electives. two only allowed system university ains ubr n fim by firm one nation’s number was course favored approaches. Another ning about and to figure out what I needed to study.to needed I what out figure to and about passionate was I what define to me allowed h ofie a ahee nal 9 aad for awards 90 nearly achieved has office the thought organizational the and approach the things. doingThis of way set one not is there this way,’ shesays. to the American Embassy Library and pulled out engineer and architectural award-winning the release announcing the news, SOM noted that noted news,SOM theannouncing release plan decentralized and centralized to regard honored with six awards,honoredsixwith includingtheFirm of howsolveto problems. ThatvaluewhyisthatI of which she applies to her work eventoday.workher applies toshe which of ‘I DOING THINGS…’ experience.’ partner in the 1940s), and rated, in 2010,1940s),rated,the intheand in partner pore searching for graduate programs, she went building onthat.’ design andinnovation inthepasttwoyears. in and US the inprojects designurbandirects comparing planning in Paris and London with London and Paris in planningcomparing course, with John deMonchaux and Julia Trilling, tl psint aot eeoig countries, developing about passionate Still included courses favorite Her the Singapore, in experiences past her In Singa ative n her in student a as ago, Years hs er te a Facso fc was office Francisco San year, the This with Langley Keyes and an urban study rhtc Maga Architect the principles Institutional Institutional ------Taipingqiao and Xintiandi Master Plan (which Plan MasterXintiandiTaipingqiao and I Cia lnig ewr ad a also has and Network Planning China MIT col fAcietr + lnig o twenty for Planning + Architecture of School Shanghai andChina). develop the guided (which Plan Master South RedevelopmentUrban Design Plan (a plan that rnha.‘ ral wn t sae y experi my share to want really ‘I Frenchman. Asso Research Urban and Planning Francisco years. She says of her loyal giving, giving, strong loyal feel her ‘I of says She years.

rm h porm a MT s I at o give to want I MIT, so at programs the from we can really make a difference in the world.’ the in difference a make really can we lope,look beyond your core courses and look at beneﬁted I contribute. can we what about ly issues globally.’ implementable.’ City and created the most desirablemixed-usemost thecreated and City masterplanfor the University campus,Utahof ment of the southern expansion of Ho Chi Minh attitude city’s the around turned and minal hp hy e cer ol, ee pn minded open were goals, clear set ship.They leader with good working ‘very remembers she ning practices. and worked closely with the campus and neigh and campus the with closely worked and toward high density development);Saigondensity the hightoward eeeain n hsoi cnevto to conservation historic and regeneration guides the redevelopment of the Transbay the Ter of redevelopment the guides INTERVIEW helped with a class taught by Professorclasshelpedbytaught witha Dennis ences and lessons to help the students. I think students.I the help to lessonsand ences ership is key. For example, while working on the policy recommendations to promote good plan good promote to recommendations policy San thewithmember realm.boardproﬁt a As also but visionary, only not were that plans proudincludeFranciscoSanthe Transbay Area back.’ developto sectorspublic and private the both with up come could We communities. boring urbanforplanning approaches to newbrought ciation (SPUR), she works with specialists from Luwan Shanghai Vietnam); inand community Her advice to students is to ‘push the enve the ‘push to is students to advice Her the to contributedgenerouslyalso has Lou LouhascomebackhelpMITto to with the non the into extends also work Lou’s Ellen lead good with working that mentions Lou most is she which of projects the of Some

STEPHANIE

HATCH ------MIT School of Architecture + Planning NON-PROFIT ORG. 77 Massachusetts Avenue, 7-231 US POSTAGE Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 PAID USA CAMBRIDGE, MA PERMIT NO. 54016

DATEBOOK FEBRUARY 3 THROUGH APRIL 3 MARCH 18 For more information and more Stan VanDerBeek: The Culture Death and the Powers. US events, visit our online calendar at SPRING 2011 Intercom. The first major premiere of Tod Machover’s new sap.mit.edu/calendar. exhibition of work by media art opera, developed at the Media Lab pioneer Stan Vanderbeek. List in collaboration with the American Stories in PLAN can usually be Visual Arts Center. Repertory Theater. Cutler Majestic found in greater detail online Theater, Boston. 7:30PM. Also at sap.mit.edu/plan, along with FEBRUARY 4 playing March 22 and 25 at archives of previous issues. Systems, Process, Art and the 7:30PM and March 20 at 3PM. To change your address, or to be Social. A panel discussion removed from our mailing list, examining the long shadow of MAY 6 – JULY 10 please email [email protected] with cybernetics and systems theory in Juan Downey: The Invisible the heading ‘address change’ or art and design from the 1950s until Architect. The first US museum ‘PLAN cancellation’. today, with particular focus on its survey of work by Chilean-born shift toward the social. Moderated video art pioneer Juan Downey (Cover) by Caroline Jones, head of The (1940-1993). Curator’s talk May 6 A scene from Tod Machover’s new History/Theory/Criticism program, at 5:30PM in the Bartos Theater. opera, Death and the Powers, Department of Architecture. MIT receiving its US premiere in March 34-101. 1-5PM. MAY 7 as part of the MIT150 Festival of FAST Light Festival. The grand Art, Science and Technology. FEBRUARY 5 finale to the Festival of Art, (Photo: Jill Steinberg) The History of Electronic Music Science and Technology. Including at MIT. Moderated by Joe Meejin Yoon’s Light Drift, Skylar Paradiso, Associate Professor of Tibbits’ VDom, Otto Piene’s Skyart Media Arts and Sciences. Media and Scoposcopy by Joel Lamere Lab Complex, 6TH Floor. and Cynthia Gunadi, among many others.