On 3 April, professor Alberto T. Estévez, director of the Master’s Degree in Biodigital Architecture at the UIC Barcelona School of Architecture, took part in the 6th Workshop on Bionics, Biometrics and Architecture, organised by the School of Architecture at the University of Alcalá in Madrid.

Alberto T. Estévez delivered a lecture entitled “Arquitectura biodigital y genética” [Biodigital and Genetic Architecture], in which he presented the latest findings in research and teaching. More specifically, the professor discussed the concept of bio-learning, the study of nature -its systems and lightweight structures-, and its application in the field of architecture and design through the use of digital drawing and fabrication tools. “Over a century ago, in Barcelona, when asked who his teacher was, Gaudí answered: ‘That tree near my workshop, that’s my teacher!’ Nature is indeed the best and most experienced teacher, an immense book, always open, which you must make an effort to read if you are to discover the secrets of the universe. We architects have lot to learn from it, especially now that, thanks to the latest digital technology, it is much easier to integrate this knowledge into our professional endeavours”, commented the professor. 

Other participants in the workshop, which took place from 1-8 April, included lecturers from the "Ion Mincu" University of Architecture and Urbanism in Bucharest, the Universitat Politècnica de València and the host institution, the University of Alcalá.