People

Instructors

Prof. Dr. Philippe Block

Philippe Block is Professor at the Institute of Technology in Architecture at ETH Zurich, where he co-directs the Block Research Group (BRG) together with Dr. Tom Van Mele. He is director of the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) in Digital Fabrication. Block studied architecture and structural engineering at the VUB, Belgium, and at MIT, USA, where he earned his PhD in 2009.

Research at the BRG focuses on computational form finding, optimisation and construction of curved surface structures, specialising in unreinforced masonry vaults and concrete shells. Within the NCCR, BRG researchers develop innovative structurally informed bespoke prefabrication strategies and novel construction paradigms employing digital fabrication. The BRG applies their research into practice on the structural assessment of historic monuments in unreinforced masonry and the design and engineering of novel shell structures.

Dr. Tom Van Mele

Dr. Tom Van Mele is Senior Scientist and co-director at the Block Research Group, where he leads the computational and technical developments. Tom is the lead developer of COMPAS, the open-source computational framework for collaboration and research in architecture, structures and digital fabrication. Tom received his PhD from VUB, Belgium in 2008.

Dr. Juney Lee

Dr. Juney Lee is an architect and a postdoctoral researcher at the Block Research Group. His main areas of research include graphic statics, applied computational geometry, and sustainable construction. He is interested in developing computational methods in order to discover new design opportunities in architecture and structural engineering. Juney studied architecture and structural engineering at UC Berkeley and MIT in the USA, and received his PhD from ETH Zurich in 2018.

RV2 team

Li Chen

Li is a software engineer specialized in computational geometries and machine learning for computer vision. He studied Architecture at Southeast University, China, then completed his Master's degree at AADRL in London, UK. His thesis project researched adaptive 3D-printed structures utilising autonomous industrial robotic arms and generative algorithms.

Wenqian Yang

Wenqian Yang is an architect and designer who has studied and practised in digital sculpturing, computational design, craftsmanship, robotic fabrication and 3D printing with an interest in exploring fabrication-informed design methods. Wenqian also worked in the Melbourne-based office LAB architecture studio as a senior architect and accomplished multiple architectural projects across scales. She joined the Block Research Group in November 2019 as an intern and has been working in the COMPAS development team. She is the lead developer of compas_skeleton package.

Alessandro Dell'Endice

Alessandro Dell’Endice is a building engineer and architect, and he is currently a PhD candidate at the Block Research Group. He has a strong interest in the field of computational design, digital fabrication and structural assessment of unreinforced masonry structures. Since November 2016, he was involved in the fabrication of several BRG’s projects, and in 2018 he started his PhD as part of the SNSF Project “Practical Stability Assessment Strategies for Unreinforced Masonry Structures”. His focus is on the development of computational methods, using discrete element modelling, for the structural assessment of historic masonry structures. Alessandro completed his Master in building engineering and architecture at Politecnico di Bari in Italy, and he received his Master in Advanced Studies in architecture and digital fabrication from ETH Zurich in 2016.

Dr. Robin Oval

Dr. Robin Oval is a structural engineer from l’École des Ponts in Paris. His master’s thesis with the Block Research Group tackles the design of force patterns for funicular form finding and was applied for the ‘Beyond Bending’ exhibition at the 2016 Architecture Biennale in Venice. In December 2019, Robin completed a joint PhD with the Laboratoire Navier at l’École des Ponts in Paris and the Block Research Group at ETH Zürich on topology finding of force and structural patterns for shell and gridshell structures. He is currently a post-doctoral researcher in the ACORN - Automating Concrete Construction project, working with Dr. John Orr of University of Cambridge and Dr. Paul Shepherd of University of Bath. Robin is the lead developer of compas_singular package.