Revolutionising the construction industry – Mariana Popescu
We Are ETH · ETH Zurich
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Show Notes
Here’s how to put the ‘fabric’ into fabricate, as ETH Zurich alumna and TU Delft Assistant Professor of Digital Fabrication Mariana Popescu explains.
Could a knitting machine revolutionise construction?
For her PhD, ETH Zurich alumna Mariana Popescu worked with the Block Research Group to show that it’s possible to use lightweight knitted textiles as a mold for concrete. Mariana discusses knitting machines, complex geometry, and why her PhD project needed two suitcases to get to Mexico.
This is her story.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction to the Knit Candela project
(01:18) Using fabric formwork for casting concrete
(04:08) Construction of the Knit Candela structure
(04:32) Computation and modeling in the project
(05:26) The Swiss influence on the project
(06:21) Applicability of the project beyond Switzerland
(07:21) Scaling up the project and future developments
(08:18) Improving the design for reusability and waste reduction
(08:48) The multidisciplinary skills required for the project
(09:12) Choosing ETH Zurich for further studies
(10:40) The process of selecting the thesis topic
(11:39) The role of collaboration and openness in the project
(12:33) Mariana's knitting and programming skills
(13:01) Understanding parametric design and computational design
(14:24) Setting up a group focused on fabrication
(15:20) The potential impact of the projects on architecture and construction
(16:18) Mariana's curiosity in fabrication and materials
(18:08) Closing remarks and podcast outro