Alexander McQueen (1969-2010) was one of the most influential and provocative designers of his generation. His clothing challenged the generic and conventional parameters of fashion to express culture, politics, identity. McQueen saw beyond clothing design physical constraints its ideological and conceptual possibilities, addressing questions related to race, gender, religion, sexuality and environment. During AA School Paris Spring 2012, McQueen’s evolutionary design will act as prompts for embryos’ naissance within the [Fashion+Architecture] body of work.

Within a framework of 10 days-germination, AA school Paris participants will take part of a collective embryo-genesis engaging McQueen’s DNA and legacy onto a novel and crucial debate about fashion in the Post-McQueen Era.
Featuring the most iconic and radical designs of his prolific career, AA embryos will grow and develop a self-intelligent état d’âme informed by a set of social, contextual, operational and performative parameters, such as: mass production driven by advanced capitalism; temperature variations in the globe, clothes’ adaptability in urban milieus, among other.

Post-McQueen Embryos seeks to eradicate the non-responsiveness within clothing design by reviewing Alexander McQueen’s alienated proportions, aiming at busting fashion design out of its commercial destination. Intended to become a design research laboratory, AA School Paris ultimate target is to keep growing the potential for meshing both disciplines [Fashion+Architecture] onto a digital/ physical cross-over studio helping to reaffirm AA School Paris research material.

The Paris Experience
Discussions, debates and lectures will take place on site with expertise on a day to day basis. By placing fashion designers at the centre of the process, the workshop seeks to challenge much more than just clothing design. At the core of Spring 2012 our solely goal is of consolidating the AA emerging discipline: bodily-architecture.
The AA Paris Fashion School will take in an exclusive insightful retrospective at the Exhibition ‘MARC JACOBS- LOUIS VUITTON’, to be held at the Les Arts Décoratifs- AA Paris Headquarters.
Post Mc-Queen Embryos is strengthened by a large network of Parisian Patronage, from industrial, publishing and collaborative links, taking the form of sponsoring inputs to the course.
The workshop is open to current architecture and design students, PhD candidates and young professionals. All applicants should submit a CV and portfolio to Jorge Ayala at info@ayarchitecture.com

Links:
Website: http://aaschoolparis.tumblr.com/
AA School Microsite: http://www.aaschool.ac.uk/STUDY/VISITING/Paris-part2
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/AA-School-Paris/175947042439516

Applications Link:

https://www.aaschool.ac.uk/STUDY/ONLINEAPPLICATION/visitingApplication.php?schoolID=68

Faculty:
Jorge Ayala, Director and Founder at [Ay]Architects
Isaïe Bloch, Collaborator Designer at Iris Van Herpen
Riyad Joucka, AA MA Emergent Techonogies Graduate
Santosh Kumar, Architect, Hernan Diaz Alonso Studio EXCESSIVE, Die Angewandte University, Vienna
Kibwe Tavares, Director and Founder at FACTORYFIFTEEN
and more.

The impetus for this development is coming simultaneously from three positions that collectively provide a critical nexus in the field of computational fabrication: First, the professional demands for buildings to have greater performance capacity, stylistic coherence, and economic efficiency; second the academic realm where experimentation, research, and theory, continue to push technological exploration forward; and third, industry where innovative development is both an economic imperative and a generative vehicle for technical application and testing. From each of these positions, applied research is gaining traction as a critical and vital part of connecting the design process into a deeper knowledge base of information that is raising the intelligence and thus efficacy of architectural design. Whether following traditional models of research or pioneering new forms of hybridized working models between these three categories, those working within this field are now able to activate a broader and more fully coordinated spectrum of information about the design decision making process.

We seek research proposals that actively connect academia, the profession and the fabrication industry. As a center of gravity the proposals must illustrate work of designers who are forming an integrated relationship between disciplines in the area they practice and build. As this is a “design to fabricate” competition, TEX-FAB will match our network of fabricators and consultants with the projects that best manifest research through computational fabrication and apply it toward more intelligent integers of materiality and construction. Through a panel of experts we propose to identify projects that warrant a higher degree of realization and exhibit them to foster a discussion that engages an audience in our region and beyond. From this selection a final project will be selected and optimized with a team of experts for the purpose of full-scale production.

APPLIED is a two-stage international design competition established to foster the deeper developments within the field of computational fabrication. We are soliciting design proposals that further existing research, by enabling prototyping at a larger scale or full scale, and proposals to jumpstart new research and design concepts

CRITERIA
You are encouraged to submit your design proposal in either of two categories: Continuing Research or Speculative Proposals.

Continuing Research is a category that seeks to enable a more specific and regimented design research project already underway. Encompassing all works that are at a significant stage within their development that warrant a substantial shift in the scale and or material usage to further the research. This includes any and all previously funded work at any stage of development.

Speculative Proposals is a broad based category with the intent to kickstart a design research project. It is an open category and freely interpretable. New ideas, or concepts are welcome and present the entrant an opportunity to further develop their ‘flash of genius’. Furniture, structures, products or any other project qualifies for this category with or without a specific site. No previously funded research work may be submitted.

WINNERS + MENTIONS
APPLIED is a two-stage competition. In the first stage a total of 4 selections that will be awarded a 1000 USD stipend to further develop their project in a scale model (2 selections from the Continuing Research category and 2 from Speculative Proposals category). For the second stage, the models with revised boards will be juried in Dallas, Texas August 2012 (a shipping fee stipend of 250 USD will be provided) with the announcement of a winner made public in August 20.

The final winning entry will be built, exhibited in Dallas/ Ft. Worth, Texas for the 4th annual TEX-FAB event and subsequently given to the Winner. The design and fabrication of the piece will be commissioned by TEX-FAB with the support of our competition sponsors. No additional design fee will be paid, however a 1,500 USD stipend will be awarded for travel to Dallas/ Ft. Worth to partake in the installation of their work, present the design on the day of the opening. Approximate value of winning proposal in materials, fabrication and labor is set at 10,000 USD.

Honorable mentions will be awarded at the discretion of the Jury. All mentions will be exhibited at the APPLIED exhibition in San Antonio, Texas in April 2012 and the following year in Arlington, Texas February 2013.

DEADLINES
Register and Submit on/or before March 31, 2012 (23:59 PM CST) – See Competition regulations for full Schedule

REGISTRATION FEE
Continuing Research 100 USD per design proposal
Speculative Proposal 100 USD per design proposal

You can also check out the Lectures and Workshops that will be taught HERE

BUILDING FASHION topics are concerned with the acquisition of appropriate knowledge and understanding of the in-vogue association [FASHION+ARCHITECTURE], supported by the mastery of essential digital skills which will equip and prepare AA Paris participants toward physical experimentations. To this extend, Building Fashion will develop a two-fold laboratoire: Computational and Physical Investigations.
The Computational Investigations Lab is an interdisciplinary design-research laboratory where -through digital based investigations- students will engage with the study of generative and evolutionary design strategies in fashion. The Physical Investigations Lab focuses on the study of physical performance and manufacturing of novel spatial repertoires. Physical prototyping will become an important instrument to the understanding of processual design- its improvement from the outset and along all phases of development.
Alongside our intensive design input, the workshop is addressed by a series of lectures, debates and presentations by guest designers, entrepreneurs and internationally renowned participants.

Unit 2 :
SELF-ASSEMBLED PRÊT-A-PORTER by JORGE AYALA AND RIYAD JOUCKA

Self-assembled Prêt-à-Porter will develop a new kind of skin operating as responsive systems to the contemporary needs of the human body, society and technology. 
Confronting the currently existing ‘capitalism comfort zones’ in fashion industry (mass- distribution primarily) this studio seeks to engage self-assembled protocols as dynamic landscapes to generate architectonic surfaces. Aided by handcrafted and software-generated physical modelling, the unit will experiment with form finding methods and prototyping in order to achieve a design proposal.

During week 1 the workshop will commence by researching the possibility of integrating natural systems within contemporary design disciplines, fashion and architecture. Participants will examine biological systems found in nature, from sea flora and fauna, like sponges, to all common-structure vertebrates and reptiles. The aim of the initial research is to draw inspiration to biomimic the local intelligence and structural systems of these creatures. 
During week 2 participants will be introduced to methods of creating feedback loops between their physical experiments and digital tools. Computation is used as means to facilitate multi-scalar design: from landscaped bodies and tectonics to experimental fashion design.

Fashion is a unique creative platform that must undergo onto mutation. Self-assembled Prêt-à-Porter Unit seeks to raise awareness within architectural education to avoid processes of ‘pop’ aestheticisation and thereby, preventing the risk of anaesthetisation of our society.

ONLINE APPLICATIONS

BUILDING FASHION PARIS
AA School (Architectural Association) Paris Season 2, led by Jorge Ayala, Principal of [Ay]A Studio, will be held from October 31st to November 10th 2011.

BUILDING FASHION PARIS is today the only cutting-edge course in Academia worldwide focusing exclusively on novel approaches to the [fashion + architecture] emerging practice.
The workshop is open to current architecture and fashion design students, phd candidates and young professionals. The deadline for applications is October 20th. Application forms and additional information are available on AA Paris website here.

UNIT 1:
STEREO VOGUE by SUBDIVISION

Stereo Vogue, as the name implies, is an omni perception on contemporary Fashion. These perspectives are emerging technologies and techniques coming out of cutting edge industries which are allowing us to dive into various design fields. From these creative areas there is a subdivision of substance necessary for taking ideas beyond our imagination. It is a methodology that we apply in contextualization of 21st century, avant-garde architecture.

Through its rapidly changing seasons, cutting edge industries are inspiring the fluctuation in style. In similar fashion, we will use Stereoscopic imagery and three dimensional vision, to generate high-end Body ornamentations informed by biomimicry – a morphogenetic design principle influenced by biological and natural performances. The Stereo Vogue Studio will commence the production with various software tools (Maya, Rhino) for analysing, designing and building advanced, evolutionary pieces which are related to human anatomical structures. These hybridized creations of nature, culture and art, will be visualised through stereoscopic – 3D technology.

2011 Core Tutors: Evan Greenberg (AA), Christina Doumpioti (AA), Jason Kelly Johnson (FCL/CCA), Andrew Kudless (Matsys/CCA)
Studio Tutors: Andrew Payne (Harvard/Lift), Ronnie Parsons (Mode/Pratt), Gil Akos (Mode/Pratt)
AA Visiting Tutors: Michael Weinstock (AA), Toni Kotnik (AA/ETH)
Workshop Tutors: Rip DeLeon, Ben Golder, David Shook (SOM), Scott Minneman, Michael Shiloh, Nick Riddle
2011 Guest Lecturers: Thom Faulders (CCA), David Gissen (CCA), Mark Sarkisian and David Shook (SOM), Bill Kreysler

2011 Sponsors: McNeel & Associates (Seattle, WA); SOM (Skidmore Owings and Merrill); Kreysler & Associates Digital Fabrication.
Special Thanks: CCA Fabrication Lab and Workshop Staff and Students; Andrew Sparks

Software Links: Rhino/Grasshopper, Firefly, Arduino, Kangaroo, Karamba

El taller afortunadamente ha tenido muy buen recibimiento y nos quedan muy pocos lugares en caso de estar interesado no dudes en ponerte en contacto cuanto antes.

Detalles:
Instructores: Rodrigo Medina | Daniel Camiro

Lugar: Plataforma de Arquitectura http://plataforma.com.mx/

Senda del Amanecer No. 151 Milenio III, Querétaro, Qro. México

Fechas: 29,30,31 de julio 2011

Cupo: Limitado a 15 plazas

Costos:
Estudiantes: $2,800

Profesionales: $3,400

Fecha límite de pago: miércoles 27 de julio 2011

Importante:
Todos los niveles de experiencia son bienvenidos el único requisito es tener un entendimiento básico de los programas CAD y una actitud positiva hacia el aprendizaje de dichas herramientas.

*Los participantes deberán traer su propia laptop con todo el software y actualizaciones (originales o versiones de demostración oficiales) previamente instaladas.(se fijara una fecha unos días antes para revisar que todos los equipos estén en orden y listos para trabajar).Si planeas venir de fuera de la ciudad avisanos y te pondremos en contacto con otras personas que también vayan a hacerlo para en caso de desearlo puedan compartir su lugar de estancia.

Contacto

info@chidostudio,com

Jesus Méndez 4421869813

Daniel Camiro 4422472424

The concept of the competition is:
Where do ideas come from? The metaphor that can respond to this question can be an utopic project,a small-scale proposal, a big-scale urban design, a sketch that can contain an innovative solution for climate change. It can be whatever your imagination is able to draw. If we simply think on how we can use the potential that lies in our capacity to dream, we can enjoy participating in the challenge, where there are no limits… just 3 concepts to choose and start drawing!

The Experts:
Miralles-Tagliabue + Span + Patterns LA + Rojkind + AGENT Design. They have each chosen one of their projects and identified 3 concepts that can define it.

Participants must select 3 of these concepts—taking no more than one from each architect—and develop a new architectural design proposal based on these 3 selected concepts. Then they must share their design proposal via HP ePrint & Share directly with our experts! Both the Experts’ favorite and the people’s favorite will win!!

The prizes are:

The winner will win a prize consisting of a publication that will include the selected proposal plus additional work by the winner, edited by dpr-barcelona. Additionally:

- A trip to the exhibition’s Premiere in Barcelona
- An exhibition in Vallery gallery in Barcelona.
- An HP Designjet T790 ePrinter.
- A Full entrance to Autodesk University.

You can find more information HERE

Bodily Interarticulations |AA School Paris/ Spring 2011
Architectural Association
The Architectural Association School of Architecture, one of the world’s most respected and ambitious pedagogical laboratories for architectural design and spatial research, offer a 10 day international visiting programme in Paris running twice per year.

Agenda
Within the framework of fashion, designers recognize the value of innovation and surprise in clothing designs and spectacle within seductive displays of retail to attract press, clientele and capital to continue this same endless process season after season.
Fashion scene today is not only a collection of captured images, but rather an ensemble of socio-morphological forces connecting people, catalyzing experimental, open-ended design. Fashion and its affinity for transformation is a complex terrain of architectural identities, scenery and performance. These dynamic spaces are the field where vanguard ideas incubate.

From right within fashion’s creative nexus Bodily Interarticulations foster ‘integral spatial qualities’ by harnessing the surprising typolo¬gies intrinsic to temporal bodies, fluid matter(s), and singular proportions. On the edge of couture’s technologi¬cal transformation, we rapid prototype templates that stage sharp, raw, urban, experimental and alien spatial apparel logics. Bodily Interarticulations work towards a mutual understanding of various couture forms so that we can computationally adjust their spatial characteristics. On the edge of couture’s technological transformation, we rapid prototype templates that stage sharp, raw, urban, experimental and alien spatial apparel logics.

Students S/S 2011
Team 1. Nicolas Pajerski/ Yinghao Lin
Team 2. Marja Mia Kolendic/ Petra Zaninovic/ Tamara Trumbic
Team 3. Vinita Tejapaibul/ Tadyanee Koranee/ Kamkan Supabanpot
Team 4. Ayami Takada/ Ming Yin/ Fai Sasimanas Hoonsuwan

Director: Jorge Ayala
Tutors: Marco Verde, Marc Fornes, Christoph Eppacher
Assistants: Brice Maurin, Geoffroy de Riberolles, Mario Saenz
Location: Musée des Arts Décoratifs, 107-111 rue de Rivoli, Paris 75001

PARIS | F(AA)SHIONS | AA Visiting Workshop | 21-31st March 2011
Director: Jorge Ayala | Location: Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris
Marc Fornes has kindly been invited to run one of the studio at the f(AA)shions workshop / one of the visiting workshop of Architectural Association School that will be hosted at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris.
Paris AA Visiting School Website – link   |   Application: vistingschool@aaschool.ac.uk
Marc will propose to his group a special type of workshop in a two steps process:
# First to be part of the assembly process for an installation by THEVERYMANY™ for the Centre Pompidou in Paris. The piece will be assembled at the Centre** and will give a chance for the students to experience the process &  logistic involved around the physical production of complex morphologies resulting from the development of highly custom protocols of descriptive geometry (written in Python / Rhcommon).
#Then will initiate the students to text based protocols/scripting (RhinoPython/Rhinoscript) – and investigate a similar design approach then the installation through applied exercises on the human morphology and study multiple ways to describe it…