Bringing ecology, biology, and aesthetics into affordable housing

By Lori-Anne Williams

Marc Swackhamer isn't a household name, but he's a big name in houses--digitally designed houses. Swackhamer, an assistant professor in the School of Architecture, is gaining recognition for his work in alternative fabrication and building techniques and their effects on low-cost housing and construction.

Swackhamer's work with design partner Blair Satterfield has been featured, for example, at the Weisman Art Musuem as part of the Home-House Project (2006) traveling exhibit, sponsored by the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art. He and Satterfield won the environments category of ID Magazine's 2007 Annual Design Review for their "Drape Wall + House," and Drift House, a design for transient housing shelter won national honors from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), and was exhibited in New York, Pittsburgh, and Chicago.

As a researcher, Swackhamer explores the relationship between performance and ornament as specifically developed through digital production and fabrication techniques. He regularly takes students on tours of fabrication shops, and has created a "DigiFab Map" of the Twin Cities with the Design Institute's Janet Abrams. The publication includes a knowledge map, an essay, and a booklet all focusing on digital fabrication shops that provide services such as laser cutting, routing, and three-dimensional printing. (The map is available at Rapson Hall.)

As part of his outreach service, Swackhamer will chair the Association for Computer-Aided Design (ACADIA) Conference in Minneapolis October 16-19. This year's conference theme is "Silicon & Skin" (http://www.acadia.org/acadia2008/). The theme aligns with Swackhamer's work in biomimicry, a method that seeks sustainable solutions by emulating nature's patterns and strategies, such as a solar cell inspired by a leaf. Much of Swackhamer's work revolves around adapting to the surrounding environment. "This is collaborative and interdisciplinary work," said Swackhamer, "with input from engineers, biologists, and every field of design."

Amidst all of his work, Swackhamer's heart is in the homes he creates. He hopes to see more of his designs constructed, and will continue to seek new ways to bring together ecology, biology, and aesthetics in affordable housing for our cities.