Design, Data and Society MSc1 Design Studio

The Design, Data and Society (DDS) MSc1 Design Studio "The Brain Center" invites students to combine data and analysis within their design processes, in order to push the boundaries of the discipline of architecture to better address societal and environmental urgencies.

The studio considers the building as a link between data and societal needs. This link allows for innovation and novel ideas for new buildings and typologies that are informed by today's technological, cultural and ecological context. The resulting design should inspire new ways to imagine buildings in the digital age, and also provide a practical and implementable solution given the context. Overall, the project will be rooted in data as a tool for designing, explaining, and measuring buildings and their impact.

The design project, a medium sized building, will be located at a world class intellectual centre that spearheads new modes for thinking, living, and thriving in the age of technology. Under this umbrella concept, the studio will evolve a perspective on new building typologies. Examples include: The Brain Center, Clinic of the Future, and Living Laboratories. Location examples include: Cambridge University, Oxford University, Alan Turing Institute, Erasmus AI Institute.

The MSc1 Studio operates in close collaboration with the Building Engineering Studio (BES) to promote new sustainable designs, materials, and construction. The BES instructors take responsibility for the technical, structural, and performative aspects of the design exercise, implementing a collaborative educational agenda focused on sustainability, energy efficiency, designing for disassembly, and adaptability to climate change. By working together, the Studio's design instructors and the BES aim to develop building designs that are both innovative and environmentally responsible.