Nikolaos Vlavianos

Info
 
nv2247@mit.edu
SMArchS  Architectural Design  (c)   |  MIT Architecture 
M.S. Advanced Architectural Design |  Columbia University
 
Expertise
 
★★★★★  Fabrication & Craft
★★★★★  Design
★★★★★  Electronics
★★★★  Programming
★★★★★  Biology
★★★★★  Chemistry
★★★★  Photography
 
What’s your favorite thing you’ve made?
Could we eat our buildings?
   
I really love “Sarx” design project done last fall at Columbia University. By utilizing current research of in-vitro meat production, I invented a self-expanded edible spatial apparatus. The expansion of “Sarx” structure rely on a set of protocols, according to which the materiality of the space per se produces certain architectural behavioral patterns. In other words, the user is able to access hidden data, adjust intangible entities and reformulate the space. The research includes three parallel areas of research: immersive spatiotemporal media, feedback materials systems and embodied computational ecologies. Pushing beyond the threshold of academic means of fabrication, I speculate on the limits of computer aided construction methods for optimization, and rationalization of architectural space.
 
What’s the most frustrating object you’ve used?
The cooking knife. Can we cut a tomato without cutting our fingers? The unpredictable results of its use, direct me to redesign it by adding a third (?) variable to the equation. In this case, a knife should become a vehicle to rethink the use of many everyday objects.
 
What do you personally hope to get out of this class? How can you contribute to the class?
In the Tangible Interfaces class, I hope to gain an alternative perspective on digital information and computation through hands on innovation and experimentation. I will contribute to the class through my background in architecture from Columbia University. I hope to collaborate and share skills with various backgrounds. Some skill-sets I can share include softwares such as Rhino, 3DSMAX and various fabrication techniques. At the same time, I am really excited to improve my skills in programming, arduino and electronics. I am interested in developing ideas towards Radical Atoms and Tangible bits research that inspires me to rethink physical objects. The idea of accessing data far beyond the levels we already have opens up a world of new ideas. I find this perspective as a promising avenue to collaborate within the vibrant interdisciplinary Tangible Media Group. I am really interested also to communicate with scientists, engineers and artists inside and outside of MIT, sharing the development of ideas and projects.