Design Engineering Refocused

The contents of the book will highlight the differences between the design and engineering disciplines – strengths and flaws. It will also illustrate examples of interdisciplinary interactions. Any false dichotomies will be revealed and the many non-linear processes borne out of challenging conventions between traditional and new modes of practice will be revealed. Projects based on a body of experience spanning many years will be selected to support experimentation that goes beyond an undisciplined search for originality, innovation and creativity. In addition to writings from Hanif Kara and Daniel Bosia contributions will be sought from specialists in the field who have played a role in the operations of P.art® at AKT II – past and present – qualifying them to disseminate and distribute a particular form of ‘knowledge’.

• Features work of architectural practices: Adjaye Associates, Foster + Partners, Heatherwick Studio, HOK, Serie Architects, Wilkinson Eyre Architects and Zaha Hadid Architects.
• In addition to AKT II, it will encompass the work of engineers and engineering consultants such as: Arup, Cecil Balmond, Buckminster Fuller, Buro Happold, Pier Luigi Nervi and Peter Rice.

Hanif Kara is Design Director and co-founder of AKT II, the award-winning London-based firm of structural and civil engineering consultants. Hanif combines practice with teaching. He is Professor in Practice of Architectural Technology at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He is a fellow of the RIBA, ICE, RAE and IStrcutE. He is on the board of trustees of the Architecture Foundation, member of the BCO Technical Affairs Committee and formerly a CABE Commissioner.

Daniel Bosia is Director at AKT II, where he heads up the specialist team P.art® (parametric applied research team), which develops bespoke software programs to manipulate and test forms and structures. Daniel is a qualified structural engineer with an MSc in Structural and Bridge Engineering and a Masters in Architecture. He was formerly head of the Advanced Geometry Unit at Arup. He is Diploma Unit Tutor at the Architectural Association in London and Honorary Professor at the Department of Architecture and Media Technology in Aalborg.