The ability to apply advanced fabrication techniques in constructingthe urban environment is undoubtedly one of the greatest opportun-ities that this century has so far presented. Ultimately, it holds outthe prospect of solving some of the most diffcult problems currently being faced in the creation of new structures. Rapid expansion ofthe global economy and also of the worlds population have createdan urgent need for a radical increase in the speed of building con-struction. However, the same forces have led to an urban situation today in which only 2% of the worlds buildings feature genuinearchitectural design leading to severe hardships whenever naturaldisasters strike in certain regions. The prospect of being able to solvethese problems is extremely exciting, but caution is also needed in order to avoid the risks involved in this type of solution.We frst need to examine the methodology that could potentially generate advances of this type. The Flight-Assembled Architecture project by Gramazio & Kohler and Raffaello DAndrea with theETH in Zurich provides an excellent case study of the way in which advanced fabrication at every level can combine to provide a totally automated construction process. It is clearly possible for each individual module in a building to be constructed by robots in order to create a local function such as that of a dwelling but much morecomplexity is involved when the role of each module in supportingthe overall structure is taken into account. Construction methodsof this type require a specialist study of each element of the buildingin order to provide standardized approaches that can then beprogrammed into a robot-driven solution. It would be possible toimagine a construction site in which robotic fabrication of individualmodels to match the structural requirements of a particular buildingsection would then be followed by automated placement of thefabricated elements in short, leading to a building entirely producedby robotic systems capable of working 24hours a day.This type of approach, in which good-quality buildings could beconstructed economically and swiftly, is extremely attractive for thedevelopment community, but there is a lesson from history that mustnot be forgotten here. A century ago, elevator companies played an integral role in determining design options for tall buildings and weretherefore able to offer architects creative solutions right from the very conception of a project. Soon, however, a set of standard elevator confgurations emerged and the elevator companies were relegated tothe role of being mere equipment suppliers. Since many parameters in building design today depend on an elevator core that has remainedfrozen in time for a hundred years, a tremendous amount of creativityhas been stifed without anyone involved ever having realized this.It is vital that the same mistake should not be made again as totalrobotic fabrication develops. The challenge during the next few years will be to ensure that the process continues to include ahuman design element and that we do not further erode our abilityto capture the elusive spark of design imagination that will addthe next innovative structure to the architectural repertory.www.fabri cate2014.orgINTERNET ACCESS ON CAMPUSNetwork: public Login: fabricate2014 password: FABRICATEPARKINGWhen arriving at ETH Hnggerberg by car, use the HIG garage. The entrance is located directly under the overpass, parkingis available on levels A and B.PUBLIC TRANSPORTZurich Airport ETH HnggerbergTake S2 or S16 to Oerlikon, then walk to Bahnhof Oerlikon Nordbus stop (2 min.) and take bus 80 to ETH Hnggerberg (direction Triemlispital).Zurich Main Station ETH HnggerbergTake tram 11 from Bahnhofquai tram stop to Bucheggplatz(direction Auzelg) and change to bus 69 which takesyou to ETHHnggerberg. Alternatively you can take a trainto Oerlikon, then walk to Bahnhof Oerlikon Nord bus stop (2 min.)and take bus80 to ETH Hnggerberg (direction Triemlispital).In order to fnd the best connections from your place ofaccommodation, we recommend using the online timetablefrom ZVV or the ZVV smart phone app.FOOD & BEVErAgESAlumni LoungeBistroFriday 08:00 22:00Friday 07:3019:00 Saturday 10:0016:00Saturday closedHexagon WOKAFriday 11:1514:00 Friday 09:0015:00 Saturday closedSaturday closedCoopFriday 07:3019:00 Saturday 09:0017:00ORIENTATION MAIN SPONSOR MAIN SPONSORFabio Gramazio, Matthias Kohler, Silke Langenberg (eds.)gta Verlag, Zurich ISBN 978-3-85676-331-2ALUMNI LOUNGEWOKAHITHPI HILHIFHPHBISTROHEXAGONGUIDEDTOURHIF-HALLAlumni Lounge(Lunch & Closing Party)THE ROBOTIC TOUCHExhibitionHIL FLOOR DFABRICATE lecture hallHIL FLOOR Ebachmannengi neer i ngagSPONSORSPARTNERSCONFERENCE CHAIRSFabio Gramazio and Matthias KohlerINTERNATIONAL STEERING COMMITEE CO-CHAIRSBob Sheil and Ruairi GlynnThere is remarkable interest in intensifying the relationship between design and making in architecture, primarily driven by research institutions and young start-up entrepreneurs. In continuation ofthe professions constructive tradition, entirely digital technologiesand construction methods, such as robotic fabrication or architecture-scale 3D printing, are currently being tested with the help of proto -types, pavilions and smaller buildings. The 2014 FABrICATE conference and publication at ETH Zurich focus on the question of if and how the innovations developed willbecome relevant on a larger scale. Special attention is given tothe even more important discussion of whether the creative spiritoriginating from these digital-material explorations will lead toa change in sensibility and methods that will affect the designand building culture more fundamentally than it might appear ata frst glance.FABRICATE: Robotics Meets ArchitectureA unique combination of research, applied sciences, design andmanufacturing is creating new opportunities for digital fabrication. It has become clear that robotics will play an increasingly importantrole in the future and not just since Google invested in companiesworking in this area. The creative and at the same time scientifcapproach that the use of robotics enables digital architectureto pursue is pushing the industry to think differently. We are proudto be part of an industry that is helping to create the future.In todays world, where open architecture enables almost everyoneto actively participate in creating innovative product, tool, and pro-cess solutions, robotics is becoming increasingly important notonly for industry, but also for the service and commercial sectors.It is our aim to fnd the most effcient ways of using robotic arms anddevices to support people in carrying out tasks that would otherwisebe impossible. Ideas become reality when they are combined with new manufacturing methods and the intelligence built into commer-cially available robot controllers for use in industrial manufacturingprocesses. Applying these technologies in new and innovative ways widens the scope for their use and presents new opportunities, in turn driving the continued development of new robotic technologiesand applications.Combining creative tools, digital fabrication processes, and computer-aided design in order to implement innovative ideas in the worldof digital architecture creates signifcant advantages, such as makingcustomization affordable and overcoming previous limitations.It is a fascinating process. Learning from each other, combining our ideas, taking inspiration from new ways of thinking this is whatenables us to grow in our profession every day. Questions arisinginclude: Why not consider producing the right material on site, duringthe construction process? Why not combine technologies thathave previously never been used together into a single application?Why not enable humans and robots to work in unison? Why notaim to replicate historic achievements and give them a new future?Why not scale up miniature designs so that they can be used in architecture? In my view, we should not be asking ourselves why not? but rather how and when? how can we do all this andwhen will we be able to achieve it?Form does not necessarily have to follow function. Design andfunctionality, as well as design and manufacturing, can in fact gohand in hand. The same applies to robotics and art robotics can be viewed as a form of art that gives life to ideas. Let us create acollaborative way of achieving the best results, capitalizing on thekey advantages presented by new digital fabrication methods.INTERNATIONAL PEER REVIEWED CONFERENCE AND PUBLICATION ETH ZURICH 1415 FEBRUARY 2014INFORMATION CONFErENCE VENuEETH Zurich, Faculty of ArchitectureBuilding HIL, Floor E, Lecture Hall E3 Stefano-Franscini-Platz 5 (before Wolfgang-Pauli-Str.15)CH-8093 ZurichCONFERENCE DAY ONE14 FEBRUARY 2014 | HIL E 308:0009:00registration09:0009:10Welcome by Co-Chairs Bob Sheil and ruairi glynn09:1009:20Introduction by Matthias Kohler and Silke Langenberg09:2010:00Keynote by Mario Carpo10:0010:30Coffee break & guided Tour at ETHCHALLENGING THE THRESHOLDS10:3010:40Opening statement by Session Chair Philippe Block10:4011:00robert Aish and gustav Fagerstrm11:1011:30Dirk Krolikowski11:4012:00Hanno Stehling12:1012:30Jelle Feringa and Asbjrn Sndergaard12:4013:00Closing Discussion13:0014:10Lunch Break14:2015:00Keynote by Virginia San Fratello and ronald raelMATERIAL EXUBERANCE15:0015:10 Opening statementby Session Chair Marta Mal-Alemany15:1015:30Alex Haw15:4016:00Jose Sanchez16:1016:30Emily Baker16:4017:00Benjamin Dillenburger17:1017:30Closing Discussion17:3018:00Break & guided Tour at ETH18:0019:00round Table Discussion chaired by Philip ursprungMario Carpo, Virginia San Fratello, ronald rael,Philippe Block, Marta Mal-Alemany andPaul Friedli (Schindler/ The Port Technology)19:00Exhibition opening & book launch The Robotic Touch,followed by an AproCONFERENCE DAY TWO15 FEBRUARY 2014 | HIL E 309:00 09:20Late registration09:2010:00Keynote by Achim Menges10:0010:30Coffee break & guided Tour at ETHFORMING MACHINES10:3010:40Opening statement by Session Chair Wes Mcgee10:4011:00ryan Luke Johns11:1011:30Ammar Kalo11:4012:00Kadri Tamre12:1012:30Tim geurtjens and Alexandre Dubor12:4013:00Closing Discussion13:0014:10Lunch Break14:2015:00Keynote by Neil gershenfeldLIVING ASSEMBLIES15:0015:10Opening statementby Session Chair Axel Kilian15:1015:30Mike Silver15:4016:00Jared Laucks16:1016:30Skylar Tibbits16:4017:00Ammar Mirjan17:1017:30Closing Discussion17:3018:00Break & guided Tour at ETH18:0019:00 round Table Discussion chaired by Bob SheilAchim Menges, Neil Gershenfeld, Wes McGee, Axel Kilian, Fabio Gramazioand Frank-Peter Kirgis (ABB Switzerland)19:00 Conference Closing PartyCHALLENGING THE THRESHOLDSDAY ONE | MORNING SESSIONKeynote Mario Carpo09:2010:00Session ChairPhilippe Block10:3010:40MATERIAL EXUBERANCEDAY ONE | AFTERNOON SESSIONKeynote Virginia San Fratelloand Ronald Rael14:2015:00Session ChairMarta Mal-Alemany15:0015:10FORMING MACHINESDAY TWO | MORNING SESSIONKeynote Achim Menges09:2010:00Session ChairWes McGee10:3010:40LIVING ASSEMBLIESDAY TWO | AFTERNOON SESSIONKeynote Neil Gershenfeld14:2015:00Session ChairAxel Kilian15:0015:10Ryan Luke JohnsAugmented Materiality:Modelling with MaterialIndeterminacy10:4011:00Mike SilverPeripatetic Fabrication:Architecture, Co-roboticsand Machine Vision 15:1015:30Ammar Kalo perForming:Exploring Incremental SheetMetal Forming Methods for Generating Low-cost, HighlyCustomized Components11:1011:30Jared LaucksSilk Pavilion:A Case Study in Fiber-basedDigital Fabrication 15:4016:00Kadri Tamre(Fr)Agile Materiality:Approximating UncertainFabrication Processes 11:4012:00Skylar TibbitsFluid Crystallization:Hierarchical Self-Organization 16:1016:30Tim Geurtjensand Alexandre DuborAnti-gravity AdditiveManufacturing12:1012:30Ammar MirjanBuilding with Flying Robots16:4017:00Robert Aishand Gustav FagerstrmTopo-faade:Envelope Design and Fabrication Planning Using Topological Mesh Representation 10:4011:00Alex HawThe Mobile Orchard:Growing Ergonomic, Edible, Aerial Datascapes 15:1015:30Dirk Krolikowski The Leadenhall Building:Design for Fabrication DigitalWorkfow and DownstreamFabrication System 11:1011:30Jose Sanchez Bloom15:4016:00Hanno StehlingBridging the Gap from CADto CAM:Concepts, Caveats and a New Grasshopper Plug-in 11:4012:00Emily BakerSearch for a Rooted Aesthetic: Study in Spin-Valence16:1016:30Jelle Feringaand Asbjrn SndergaardFabricating Architectural Volume: Stereotomic Investigationsin Robotic Craft12:1012:30Benjamin DillenburgerPrinting Architecture:Castles Made of Sand16:4017:00