Terra x Terra

Nic Bao is a Lecturer in Architecture and Architecture Technology Course Area Coordinator at the School of Architecture & Urban Design, RMIT University, having previously taught at the University of Melbourne, Monash University, Tongji University, etc. His research explores design methodologies for establishing a complementary relationship among computational design, structural engineering, behavioural algorithms, and robotic fabrication. Nic is an Australian and US Registered Architect and UK RIBA Chartered Architect. Nic is the Director of architecture practice STUDIO NIC BAO and Co-founder of FormX. Nic received his Master of Architecture from the University of Melbourne and Bachelor of Architecture from RMIT. Now Nic is completing his PhD at the Centre for Innovative Structures & Materials, School of Engineering and School of Architecture & Urban Design, RMIT University, where he received the full PhD scholarship award. Nic is also a Committee Member of CAADRIA and DigitalFUTURES Associations. His work has been exhibited and published widely, including Melbourne Design Week, IASS Expo, Shenzhen Biennale, Venice Biennale, Time+ Architecture Magazine, Current Chinese Science Journal etc. Recently Nic received the 2021 Young CAADRIA Award and two significant First Prizes of the 5th International 3D Printing & Design Competition (3DPDC) in 2020 and the 3rd National Competition on Aerospace Structure Optimization & Additive Manufacturing (China) in 2019.

Caitlin Mueller is a researcher, designer, and educator working at the interface of architecture and structural engineering. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Building Technology Program, where she leads the Digital Structures research group. As a researcher, Mueller focuses on developing new computational methods and tools for synthesizing architectural and structural intentions in early-stage design. She also works in the field of digital fabrication, with a focus on linking high structural performance with new methods of architectural making. In addition to her digital work, she conducts research on the nature of collaboration between architects and engineers from a historical perspective. Mueller also aims for interdisciplinary learning and integration in her teaching efforts, which include subjects in structural design and computational methods.

Masoud Akbarzadeh is a designer with a unique academic background and experience in architectural design, computation, and structural engineering. He is an Assistant Professor of Architecture in Structures and Advanced Technologies and the Director of the Polyhedral Structures Laboratory (PSL). He holds a D.Sc. from the Institute of Technology in Architecture, ETH Zurich, where he was a Research Assistant in the Block Research Group. He holds two degrees from MIT: a Master of Science in Architecture Studies (Computation) and a MArch, the thesis for which earned him the renowned SOM award. He also has a degree in Earthquake Engineering and Dynamics of Structures from the Iran University of Science and Technology and a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering. His main research topic is Three-Dimensional Graphical Statics, which is a novel geometric method of structural design in three dimensions. In 2020, he has received the National Science Foundation CAREER Award to extend the methods of 3D/Polyhedral Graphic Statics for Education, Design, and Optimization of High-Performance Structures.