APOMECHANES

Apomechanes is a computational design workshop as well as a study summer abroad program in Greece. This is part of a series of workshops and study abroad programs that have run since 2009. The title apomechanes is derived from “από μηχανής”, literally “from the machine”, and refers to the machinic nature of the studio in an abstract/diagrammatic sense. Apomechanes is a calque from Greek meaning “god from the machine”.

The studio is devoted to furthering techniques and concepts of algorithmic processes as means for design and fabrication. Apomechanes brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds and fields of study, to discuss, exchange and collaborate on projects that investigate modes of algorithmic and machinic processes in architectural design. During the studio, participants create their own custom algorithms leading to the fabrication of working full-scale prototypes. At the same time, they engage closely with computational processes in order to develop an aesthetic and intuition of complexity that resides in a balance between design intent and emergent character.

The Summer Study Abroad Program Greece will organize a series of visits to both archeological sites as well as modern and contemporary architectural sites. PennDesign students will exchange and collaborate with a selected group of Greek Architecture students, Artists and Designers during a weeklong design workshop. There will be a series of lectures from professionals and academics, which will frame the proceedings of the workshop. The final presentation will take the form of a symposium and an installation.

The Greece study abroad program exposes students to the ancient and contemporary of Greek culture, archeology, city planning and architecture foundation. Many cannons of our discourses come directly from Ancient Greek civilization, ranging from our Democracies to City Planning, Theory and Design.