The Annual Conference, April 3-4
The Annual NSO Conference, "Nonlinear Fabrication" begins 6:30pm, Thursday, April 3 with Manuel DeLanda's keynote lecture at the Wu & Chen auditorium (Levine Hall, UPenn). Panel discussions begin friday morning at 9am in the Upper Gallery (Meyerson Hall, UPenn).
In addition to the NSO team (Cecil Balmond, David Ruy, Detlef Mertins, Ferda Kolatan, Jenny Sabin, and Peter Jones) visiting participants include:
William Braham, Winka Dubbeldam, Behrokh Khoshnevis, Anne Plant, Roland Snooks, Andrew Snow, Marcelo Spina, Theo Spyropoulos, Peter Testa, Chris Tuck, and Tom Wiscombe.
Cecil Balmond's New Book Is Out
A mesmerizing paean to the interconnectedness of science, art, and nature from one of the world's most innovative architects and structural engineers.
The genius of Cecil Balmond is behind some of the world's most exciting architectural endeavors. From Anish Kapoor's gigantic sculpture at the Tate Modern to Rem Koolhaas' CCTV buildings in Beijing, Balmond is the unsung hero of modern architecture. In Element, his third book, he offers a glimpse into his creative process.
Following a loose yet logical configuration, Element uses pattern, mathematical reasoning, and advanced technology to create an unconventional exploration of design. Balmond's narrative unfolds in three conceptual chapters — elements, pattern, nature — linked by two conceptual bridges — digital "tectonics" and numbers. Each of these aspects relates to each other in a number of ways, leading to a series of narratives, the correlations of which recall the archetypal Chinese wheel. The book is a highly engrossing journey of the world around us seen from different, multiple angles.
The New NSO Website Is Online
We are currently testing various features. Please check back for the NSO script library, conference videos, and downloadable publications.