In the hundred years since Bauhaus School, the knowledge system of architecture has been continuously refined and enlarged, and the teaching of architecture has increasingly emphasized the systematic imparts of knowledge, while the proportion of practical training in design has been diluted. From this point of view, the opening of modeling workshop will make architects "think with hands" into the daily creation, and will also contribute to more works worth looking forward to

On the afternoon of November 2, 2020, the modeling workshop of DAQI ARCHITECTS which belongs to China Architectural Design and Research Group was officially opened. A short ceremony was held on the site. 

Modeling workshop of DAQI ARCHITECTS

Cao Xiaoxin, vice chief architect of CADG and Presiding architect of DAQI ARCHITECTS gave a speech at the opening ceremony. He said that DAQI ARCHITECTS, as the brand studio of CADG shouldered heavy project production tasks, while never gave up the pursuit of high quality architectural creation, especially for many years in research and exploration on materials and construction technology. “Thinking by hand” is the design culture and brand characteristics of DAQI ARCHITECTS, which highlights the importance of concept model during architectural design process.

The opening ceremony of DAQI Modeling workshop 

Afterwards, Cao introduced the equipments of DAQI Modeling workshop, which included 3D printer, laser engraving machine, CNC machine tool, woodworking machine and cutting machine, etc. The complete equipment can basically meet all the requirements of the architect to make the concept model. Cao also worked on the laser engraving machine for 5 seconds to make a wooden coasters of DAQI logo.

The equipments of DAQI Modeling workshop 

Cao worked on the laser engraving machine.

The opening ceremony was followed by a ABBS "DAQI TALK No.99 - Building system integration of Kimbel Art Gallery designed by Louis Kahn ". The three graduate students gave a detailed introduction to the integration of space, equipment and structure in the Kimbel Art Gallery. The gallery model they showed in the ABBS was made just in the modeling workshop.

ABBS "DAQI TALK No.99 - Building system integration of Kimbel Art Gallery designed by Louis Kahn "

The graduate students made Kimbel Art Gallery model in the modeling workshop

The opening of the modelling workshop has special significance. Since its establishment in 2006, DAQI ARACHITECTS has been adhering to the design method of making concept model and material research, which has not been interrupted for more than ten years. This research and design method of "thinking by hand" has also become a culture of DAQI ARCHITECTS. In recent years, DAQI ARCHITECTS has completed research topic on "Research and innovation of concrete material expressiveness" which has applied for a series of patents. Meanwhile a large number of research results have been implemented in the projects.

Design tradition of "thinking by hand" model in design of large vessels

Architectural models have played a decisive role in the careers of many famous architects. The Swiss architect Zumthor was known for his preference for the tactile over other forms, and the American architect Steven Holl was recognized early in his career for his "bridge house" model proposals. With the development of digital technology, in the 1990s, Deconstructionist architect Frank Owen Gehry opened a new development of architecture in the 21st century with the application of CATIA software and the production of digitally driven 3D models.

For many architects, model has special significance. Model making has been indispensable to architectural design. The model can let a person to catch plane, section and elevation at the same time and the perspective of information, meanwhile provides the designer longed for real-time and flexibility. Model can let architect truly feel the connection between the thinking and doing, which can hardly be felt by digital modeling software or VR technology.

Cao xiaoxin was invited to teach a course on concrete at Southeast University

In the past hundred years, the modern university system has gradually classified knowledge and arranged it in a systematic way. Architecture may be one of the few disciplines that appear simultaneously in comprehensive universities, universities of science and technology, and schools of fine arts, which is enough to show the breadth of knowledge it covers. With the continuous refinement of old knowledge categories and the incorporation of new knowledge, the knowledge system of architecture is becoming larger and larger. Therefore, architecture teaching tends to emphasize more and more systematic knowledge imparting, while the proportion of practical design training is becoming more and more diluted. In response to this reflection and problem of current architectural education, architect Cao Xiaoxin, who is the host of DAQI ARACHITECTS, was invited to open the concrete Research course in the Department of Architecture of Southeast University for five years. This teaching activity has attracted the attention and reported by Architectural Journal.

In this sense, this small modeling workshop not only provides a good working environment for architects, but also brings more works worth looking forward to through the thinking and creation way of returning to the origin of design of “thinking by hand”.