Research agenda for Winter 2012:

Philosophy:  Building from a seminar I taught a few years ago at Columbia on architecture and urban space, this winter will be devoted to exploring a range of theories including Guy Debord on Spectacle, Walter Benjamin on mass distraction, Jacques Derrida’s on Force of Law, and Foucault on Power and Transgression.  Using a selection of these readings we will write on and explore the question of architecture’s relation to the city beyond institutionality and form.  We will focus on specifically the question: at what point could architecture be transgressive?

Computation:  This Winter labDORA will be engaged in developing tower design with a dual computational agenda.  The first part will be to look at combinatorial (algorithmic) systems for structures and continuous (calculus-based) systems for curtain walls, paying specific attention to the problem convergence and divergence.  We will be working with Mathematica, Rhino, Maya, Realflow and Maxwell.

 

labDORA develops various forms of experimental design research and philosophy, ranging from computation, structures, and engineering to the politics of urban space.  labDORA accepts up to five interns per season (spring, summer, fall, winter) for a minimum of 2 and a half months and a maximum of 6 months.  The internships are purely research based and therefore do not accommodate monetary compensation.  Interns are trained to use advanced computational software and participate at all levels of design and philosophical research.  Internships are full time with normal office hours from 10 until 6, although special consideration might be given to applicants who also need to work part-time.

Applicants for internships should send a cover letter, cv and a small portfolio (maximum 5 mb) to info@petermacapia.com