acadia


Optimism

Over the past decade, the coming together of different cultural and disciplinary perspectives in our globally networked society, new forms of cultural mobility, and an increased recognition of technology's potency in optimizing design, fabrication, and implementation processes have transformed the field of architecture.

Seeking alternatives to pure techno-optimism, the ACADIA 2017 exhibition explores how criticality and the responsibility of architecture is articulated today through the use and development of new technologies in various contexts. What are the new social, cultural, political, environmental, and economic challenges and responsibilities that can be addressed through architectural technologies? Optimism highlights visionary projects and design work of MIT School of Architecture and Planning faculty from diverse departments and disciplinary groups. The work draws on methods, processes, and techniques that have been developed or discovered that engage the use of computers in architecture toward meaningful impact in the discipline and society. Emphasis is placed on embracing tolerance and inclusiveness to foster social change, deepen civic involvement, and empower human networks through context-sensitive, politically engaging, and environmentally responsible approaches.

1 / 11
Cristina Parreño - Tectonics of Transparency
2 / 11
Gabriella Carolini - Exploring the Critical Geography of Urban Property Tax Potential in African Cities
3 / 11
Joel Lamere - Grove
4 / 11
Lauren Jacobi - Constructing the Space of Money
5 / 11
Mariana Ibanez - RolyPolygon: Confessional
6 / 11
Rafi Segal - Choreography of Matter: Set Design for Mythos
7 / 11
Rania Ghosn - Blue Marble Circus
8 / 11
William O'Brien Jr. - Other Masks
9/ 11
Sarah Williams - Digital Matarus
10 / 11
Skylar Tibbits - Programmable Materials: Active Auxetics
11 / 11
Takehiko Nagakura - AR Mail from Harbin

Venue

Lobby of Samuel Tak Lee Building (MIT Building 9).
Exhibition dates: November 2—February 5, 2017.
Gallery hours: Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed weekends and holidays).
The exhibition is free and open to the public.


Exhibiting Faculty

Gabriella Carolini

Rania Ghosn (DESIGN EARTH)

Mariana Ibañez (Ibañez Kim)

Lauren Jacobi

Joel Lamere (GLD)

Takehiko Nagakura and Woong Ki Sung

William O’Brien Jr. (WOJR)

Cristina Parreño (Cristina Parreño Architecture)

Rafi Segal (Rafi Segal A+U)

Skylar Tibbits (MIT Self-Assembly Lab)

Sarah Williams


Exhibition Curation

William O'Brien Jr. (Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, MIT / Principal, WOJR / Co-Founder, CLOK)

Azra Aksamija (Associate Professor, Art, Culture and Technology Program, MIT)



Exhibition Design and Production

Joshuah Jest (Exhibition Design and Production Lead)

Irina Chernyakova

Marianna Gonzalez

Christopher Dewart

John Steiner

Joey Swerdlin



Exhibition Advisors

Tom Gearty

James Harrington

Takehiko Nagakura

Skylar Tibbits

Melissa Vaughn



Administrative Team

Patricia Driscoll

Dineen Doucette