Teaching: Encoded Assemblies
Description
Encoded Assemblies is a research workshop conducted by the Living Architecture Lab at the Bartlett, UCL, introducing AD MArch students to computational thinking and programming in architecture. The workshop focuses on developing generative spatial algorithms, such as wave function collapse and a 3D redesign of Conway's Game of Life, while leveraging reinforcement learning to explore bottom-up generative architectures.
Type
Teaching / Professional
Authors
Sergio Mutis (technical tutor)
As technical tutor at the Living Architecture Lab, I teach and guide students through technical workshops. The documentation featured in this page was created by me as a demo for the workshop of 2022.
Role
​Location
London,
UK
Years
2022, 2023,
and 2024.
Institution
Bartlett School of Architecture,
University College London (UCL)
Assembly Generation Tool
During the workshop, students develop their own generative tools. This example, scripted for Unity 3D, produces structures by stacking cell states of Conway's Game of Life. Features like base selection & design, custom rulesets, and adjustable ruleset activators, allow for form experimentation.
Sample Research Tree
Students are encouraged to systematically explore novel modes of generative design, pursue their own objectives, and set up relevant metrics to keep track of their progress. At the end of the workshop, they present their complete research explorations.
Machine Learning
Utilizing Unity's ML Agents framework, students can train machine learning agents to optimize for project-specific objectives. Over hundreds of thousands of iterations, this agents achieve higher performance than their human creators.