*Monika Wittig, *Lance Walters, Andrea Graziano
LaN / live architecture network
Workshop Presentation
Saturday, Sept 29, 2012: 11:50 AM – 1:20 PM – LK120

← Back to Medicine X 2012 Proceedings

*Presenting Speakers

Most often when an architect is involved in dialogue about healthcare / medicine the focus quickly becomes the design of hospitals for the critically ill. Instead, what if we agree for a moment that we are all in fact ‘patients’ of varying degrees. If personal health for all falls somewhere between the absolutes ofminimum and maximum  health, then likely we are capable of seeing any sharp division between ‘the sick’ and ‘the healthy’ disappear. Therefore let’s be mindful we all have the opportunity to be more invested in optimizing our health on a daily & longterm basis.

The spaces that we typically spend our days in… were they actually conceived with the body prioritized? Consider most usually they are heavily informed by a conceptual vision, square footage requirements, economics, standardization (of windows.. of material dimensions), etc.

If ‘Architecture’ fundamentally grew out of a need to limit our exposure of our bodies from forces of nature that cause harm when experienced in extremes (temperature, wind and sunlight exposure, storms, wildlife) then it seems apt time to make use of advancing technologies to investigate deeper the complexities of our inner ecosystems to inform our built environments.

The workshop will have users collect some live personal data to be used in a digital model to show how variable data (from person to person) creates different geometric outcomes using a type of modeling software that is described as ‘visual programming’.

The workshop will also explore how design-minds may be very capable in medical diagnostic realms in relation architectural topics of complex patterning, gradients of effects, systems behaviour and so forth. The workshop will run exercises in data-visualization. A 3d portable scanner will be utilized in the explorations; some participants will have the hands-on use of the scanner while others will witness the whole process projected.

In 2012, we are living in a time of unprecendented data collection, management, and sharing capabilities that allow us to refine our sensibilies about data… about who is best suited to collect… process and manage it… essentially all of us patients.

Objectives:
1) highlighting the incredible accessibility patients have to acquire personal data with minimal cost and technical know-how (apps / sensors)
2) show how data from the body can not only be visualized but crafted to analytically drive the generation of 3d spatial form
3) provoking the value in moving from a static ‘diagnosis’ or an ‘annual exam’ to a continual sensing of our personal health collected by and empowering the patient themselves to used in collaboration with medical professionals.

Audience:
This workshop hopes to draw a varied audience and is set up in a fashion to include various levels of (hands-on) participation with (hardware) data collection and (software) manipulation of form. ‘Patients’ and those with a technical and/or design background of any sort are valued. Researchers and those specializing in ‘big picture’ thinking may also find appeal.

Technical requirements:
LCD projector, table, some participants with laptops  running Windows, free demo 3d software installed (Rhinoceros 3d & Grasshopper plug-in),  flip-board (optional)

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