A New (Old) Paradigm on Metal Fabrication between the Automobile and the Building Industries

This paper provides a serious attempt to build a compelling case, arguing for a new materialism paradigm shift based on structuring a synergistic workflow between the automobile and the building industries. Although the transfer of technology between the two industries has seen an unprecedented increase in the last ten years primarily in robotics technologies and digital fabrication methods, the very basic fundamental aspects of materials supply-chain, fabrication processes, and waste-flow optimization have been overlooked by the design community. The story of making the stamped-aluminum skin of the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) building in Pittsburgh (the site of the Material Frontier call discourse) reveals a profound similar synergy between the Pullman company and the building design.

https://doi.org/10.35483/ACSA.AM.107.66

Volume Editors
Amy Kulper, Grace La & Jeremy Ficca

ISBN
978-1-944214-21-0