As a lecturer at the School of Explorative Architecture (SEA), our founder, in collaboration with Thinus Venter and Jaydon Meidlinger, taught a computational design elective titled “Generative Design” to second and third-year students. The course was divided into a theory and practical component, introducing learners to the thinking and practical implementations of computational design for geometry creation, fabrication, and climatic analysis. The students were to design a façade system to protect a theoretical interior space from the weather elements in a chosen location at the V&A Waterfront.

Through rigorous weekly lectures for two months, the students were introduced to the theory and practice of computational design. They were able to produce innovative projects using Grasshopper and Rhino and scaled models of their interventions fabricated for display at the Watershed, V&A Waterfront.

In the South African architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, digital skills like computational design and building information management (BIM) are in short supply. With these skills, AEC organizations can streamline their operations and attract new business in local and international markets.