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Working Group 22: Architectural Geometry

Architectural geometry sits at the intersection of architecture, structural engineering and applied mathematics. It studies how geometric, structural and fabrication constraints can be aligned to create efficient, buildable and expressive spatial structures. Geometrical knowledge is key to creating innovative solutions for construction-aware design, and thus elevating shell and spatial structures beyond the extravagant to make them mechanically and economically efficient for broader applications in architecture. The IASS’s wealth of shell and spatial structure knowledge and experience positions us well to bring insight based in structural concepts to this important field of architectural geometry. To channel this knowledge, the IASS community formed Working Group 22 on Architectural Geometry in 2023.

Our Mission: To spread knowledge on architectural geometry in the structural engineering community and to enrich the architectural geometry domain with new scientific questions arising from engineering, architectural, and artistic practice.

Objectives

  1. Create awareness and strengthen geometrical education. (ongoing)

  2. Identify and structure the Architectural Geometry community within IASS. (Partly accomplished)

  3. Organise sessions at IASS Symposia and Colloquia related to architectural geometry. (accomplished)

  4. Contribute to the organisation and editing of Special Issues of Journals related to the architectural geometry of shell and spatial structures. (accomplished)

  5. Develop ways to share information and materials and best practice activities that enhance understanding of architectural geometry. (ongoing)

  6. Collect and disseminate developments in architectural geometry in an interactive publication incorporating built examples and offering an up-to-date "design guide" tailored to structural designers. (ongoing)

  7. Advance the research field of architectural geometry by tackling the challenges of:

    • Awareness & Education. Strengthen geometrical education for architects and engineers and improve access to geometric knowledge and teaching resources.
    • Geometry & Construction. Bridge high-tech design and low-tech construction by embedding material, fabrication and assembly constraints into the early design process.
    • Digital Methods & Tools. Develop and disseminate numerical tools for geometric design, co-rationalisation, and the integration of topology, shape and structural behaviour.
    • Structural Geometry. Advance geometry-based approaches to structural design, from form finding to force layout, unifying architectural and structural thinking.

WG22 Activities so far
The Working Group 22 "Architectural Geometry" was established during the IASS EC meeting held in Melbourne on July 9, 2023. In the past two years, we have conducted the following activities:

  1. Identified and structured the Architectural Geometry community within IASS, bringing together researchers, educators and practitioners and defining common goals for the coming years.

  2. Organised the first annual meeting of the WG22 at the IASS 2024 Symposium in Zurich, to elaborate the work program for the coming five years.

  3. Organised technical sessions at the IASS 2024 Symposium in Zurich and IASS 2025 (Mexico City), strengthening the presence of geometry within the annual symposium, and building awareness of the common ideas.

  4. Prepared a special issue of the IASS journal by 2025 to show a state-of-the-art of IASS members' contribution to the field of Architectural Geometry, addressing the discipline’s current research challenges (7 a,b,c).
Future WG22 Activities
WG22 is expanding its activities with the goal of building a shared knowledge base for the international Architectural Geometry community. We will:

    1. Expand activities at IASS symposia. Continue organising Architectural Geometry sessions and workshops at upcoming IASS meetings. Encourage participation from industry partners, emerging researchers and educators.

    2. Build a strong online presence by extending WG22 activities to web platforms, online portals and social media, ensuring broad visibility and an open exchange of knowledge.

    3. Establish an online repository for Architectural Geometry, covering four key areas: 

      • Education. Develop online tutorials on essential topics of surface geometry and discretisation. Provide open-source scripts and workflows tailored for architects, engineers and students.

      • Applications. Showcase exemplary built projects demonstrating how architectural geometry drives constructability in practice and research.

      • Research. Collect, curate and promote the latest publications, methods and tools from the global AG community.

      • Community. Connect architects, engineers and mathematicians within WG22 to collaboratively grow the repository, ensuring that knowledge is accessible, well-structured and up to date.

    Membership
    All current members of the Working Group are members of the IASS. The Working Group welcomes additional members who have an interest in Architectural Geometry; those interested should please contact the Chair of the Working Group, Cyril DOUTHE.  (Find his e-mail in the IASS Directory by logging in).

    • Cyril DOUTHE (Chair) - France

    • Toby MITCHELL (Co-Chair) - USA

    • Eike SCHLING (Co-Chair) - Germany

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