Vol. 1 - Kizuki-au 築き合う— Collaborative Construction

How can robots help humans build sustainable timber structures without a single nail, fastener or metal part? How can members of a community get involved in the design of their own built environment? In 2022 year, Switzerland and Japan explored the future of architecture at Aichi Triennale 2022 with “Kizuki-au 築き合う—Collaborative Constructions”, two installations by Gramazio Kohler Research from ETH Zurich and T_ADS Obuchi Lab from the University of Tokyo. Featuring Japanese all-timber tradition revived through Swiss technology, the project sheds light on digital processes in architecture, human-robot interactions, community building and the shift towards a circular mindset.

On this occasion, the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan, in collaboration with UNIVERSITY of CREATIVITY, held a talk event exploring sustainability, participation and purpose in architecture through the lens of “Kizuki – au”, which means “Building together” in Japanese, but also “Understanding one another”.

Date: September 6, 2022, 19:00-21:00 
Online/Live stream on YouTube
Speakers: Prof. Fabio Gramazio (Gramazio Kohler Resaerch, ETH Zurich), Seiichi Saito (Panoramatiks), Hannes Mayer (ETH Zurich), Prof. Yusuke Obuchi (T_ADS Lab Obuchi, the University of Tokyo), Yukiko Shikata (critic, curator)
Moderators: Hidenori Kondo (UNIVERSITY of CREATIVITY), Jonas Pulver/Yuko Takahashi (Embassy of Switzerland in Japan)
Organizers: Embassy of Switzerland in Japan, UNIVERSITY of CREATIVITY

▼Program:
00:11:28 Remarks by Jonas Pulver, Head of Communications and Culture, Embassy of Switzerland in Japan Keynotes: case studies from Kizuki-au 築き合う－Collaborative Constructions.
00:15:22 Hannes Mayer, Gramazio & Kohler Research, ETH Zürich
00:30:20 Prof. Yusuke Obuchi, T_ADS Obuchi Lab, University of Tokyo

00:46:50 Panel Discussion 1 
- How can construction embrace circularity and repurposing through technology? How can architectural culture transform community dynamics, and provide a new horizon for value creation?
Hannes Mayer (ETH Zurich), Prof. Yusuke Obuchi (Tokyo University), Yukiko Shikata (critic, curator), Hidenori Kondo (UoC), Yuko Takahashi (Embassy of Switzerland in Japan)

01:23:03 Panel Discussion 2 
– Human-machine i(n)tera(c)tions: How are computers, automation and robots re-shaping the realm of design? What does it say about the human role in the creative process, and the relation between built and digital spaces? Prof. Fabio Gramazio (ETH Zurich), Prof. Yusuke Obuchi (Tokyo University), Seiichi Saito (Panoramatiks), Hidenori Kondo (UoC), Jonas Pulver (Embassy of Switzerland in Japan)

Japanese：https://youtu.be/Dza1u2ZMKsw00:11:28

More information: UoC

A collaboration between the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan and UNIVERSITY of CREATIVITY, Swiss Vitality Talk x UoC is part of a larger talk event series Swiss Vitality Talk.

※Swiss Vitality Talk is a series of talk events on the three themes of Healthy Life, Sustainable Planet and Human-centered Innovation with experts from Switzerland and Japan. Let’s explore a prosperous and vitalized future through discussions between Swiss and Japanese experts!