Who decides what constitutes an innovation in architecture and how? What key criteria define an innovation? This and much more was discussed at the round table "Innovations in Architecture", held as part of the business programme of the Second International Forum "Aluminium in Architecture and Construction" (AlumForum 2021) at Technopark Skolkovo.
Participants in the event included Maxim Dolgov, head of architectural studio No 1 at the Urban Planning Institute Giprogorproject; Valery Lukerin, head of architectural glass sales at Salavatsteklo; and Alexander Kalachev, chief project architect at UNStudio (Netherlands). The round table was moderated by Yuri Vissarionov, Professor, Academician of the International Academy of Architecture in Moscow, Member of the Board of the Union of Moscow Architects, Professor, Member of the Board of SRO GARHI.
Participants discussed current trends in architecture and design, as well as ways to simplify and accelerate the construction process through the use of innovative technologies and materials.
"At the moment, the main innovation is BIM design. However, the important thing is not even that we started doing projects in a volumetric environment, but that there is a collaborative platform in which architectural engineers design in one element at a time," said Maxim Dolgov. The expert listed the following innovative technologies: generative design, artificial intelligence capable of generating new models and objects, and 3D printing.
Valery Lukerin introduced his company and spoke about the production of architectural glass. "We have been in the sheet glass market for over 62 years. Today we produce about 75 million square metres a year. The consumption volume of the sheet glass market in Russia is 180 mln square metres per year," he said. Alexander Kalachev spoke about how the company applies the principles of computer architecture in the realisation of architectural projects.
"It took one week to design the wood pavilion, which was built in China, and another week to build it with the help of a Kuka robot. We experiment with different materials and geometries and aim to use materials of lower thickness to create a colourful and interesting solution," says a UNStudio representative. "We can create spectacular pavilion structures in aluminium in a very short time," he added.
The participants of the round table talked about their visions for the architecture of the buildings, considering the future development of the areas. Examples of projects in which innovative building technologies and materials have been used were also presented.