Architectural Design 2.0 : An online platform for the mass customization of architectural structures

Abstract

Not only are there incredible inefficiencies in the current practice of design, fabrication and construction of architecture, but, until now these processes have been limited to costly design professionals, wasteful manufacturing facilities and labor-intensive site work. Architectural Design 2.0 is a vision for rethinking these processes in order to empower consumers and users of architecture with the tools and resources necessary that will enable them to design and produce their own mass customized architectural structures. Such a change will be achieved by integrating digital fabrication technologies with the massive shift in Internet usage behavior commonly known as Web 2.0. This thesis begins with an historical framework of user-generated design and production in architecture and follows with an introduction to a digital-to-physical translation procedure that harnesses digital fabrication with an online open-source design platform. Finally, this thesis provides evidence of a working model for Architectural Design 2.0 by delivering a set of user-generated, full-scale prototypes.