The Swisspearl® Summerschool 2015 took a first step in characterizing a novel robotic fabrication process – developed by the group of Gramazio Kohler Research at ETH Zurich – where industrial robots are used not only for construction, but as a guiding principle in the design and fabrication process. Featuring cement composite façade panels, which were manually moulded from automatically-cut polystyrene blocks, this two-week design and building workshop brought forward a new aesthetic and constructive vocabulary of bespoke façade morphologies, and as such offers a comprehensive new approach to architecture research and teaching.

The exhibition showcases the key results of the Summerschool and presents a wide range of physical explorations, ranging from initial geometry and material studies to full-scale façade prototypes. Ultimately, the exhibition premieres the documentary film “The Loose Wire” by Marc Schwarz, engaging with the unique robotic process and its exploration as well as with the protagonists and outcome of the Summerschool.