If Robots Build the House of Today, How to Build a House Tomorrow?

This discussion between architects, policy makers, designers and technologists dives into the issues raised by the “How to Build a House: Architectural Research in the Digital Age” exhibition at swissnex San Francisco.

The exhibition presents the DFAB HOUSE in Switzerland, one of the first houses to be built almost entirely by digital methods, robots and 3D printers. If this vision has suddenly become a concrete reality, how will architecture and construction change? What does it mean for a thriving city such as San Francisco? Could it provide solutions for the housing crisis or for climate change? What about integrative, collaborative design and fabrication processes? Will these new methods of how to build a house be sustainable, social, and functional - but also lead to as-of-yet unknown, yet beautiful results?

This evening is about the strong claims and the critical assessment confronting research in the field of architecture and digital fabrication from the labs of ETH Zurich within the reality of San Francisco and the building culture of the Bay Area.