Upcoming Computational Design in Architecture at CDFAM Amsterdam

And a review of previous architectural CDFAM presentations

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Computational Design in Architecture at CDFAM

Computational design in architecture, from façade systems to foresight frameworks, takes the spotlight at CDFAM Amsterdam—while continuing to shape innovation from high-rise façades down to performance footwear.

As computational design becomes increasingly central to how we conceive, simulate, and fabricate the built environment, the architectural scale continues to provide both a proving ground and a launch point.

From generative logic to performance-driven optimization, the discipline of architecture has developed structured, scalable, and increasingly interdisciplinary workflows—many of which offer direct insights for other domains, from advanced manufacturing to digital fabrication and systems engineering.

At CDFAM Amsterdam 2025, architecture returns to the foreground—not only as a field that demands advanced geometric and performance logic, but also as a discipline that has quietly exported its methods into footwear, medical devices, infrastructure, and mobility systems.

This year’s program builds on a growing body of presentations across past CDFAM events, highlighting how architectural thinking is influencing the future of design at all scales.

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Architectural Scale Presentations at CDFAM Amsterdam

The architectural scale will take a central role at CDFAM Amsterdam 2025, with keynote speaker Mathew Vola, Arup Fellow and Director, leading the discussion.

With over two decades of experience across Europe, Asia, and Australia, Vola has helped shape next-generation buildings using computational methods and advanced material systems.

His impact extends beyond project delivery—he has been instrumental in building Arup’s global computational design capability from the ground up.

Starting with no dedicated team, he initiated and scaled a knowledge-sharing program that now connects hundreds of computational designers across Arup’s offices worldwide.

Some of the outcomes of this initiative were highlighted in the CDFAM Berlin 2024 presentation by Rick Titulaer, who demonstrated how Arup’s integrated workflows are reshaping structural and environmental design practices.

At CDFAM Amsterdam, Vola will share insights from Arup’s inForm platform and the broader integration of digital tools into sustainable structural design.

Other Amsterdam presentations at the architectural scale include:

• Tiffany Cheng – Cornell University
  Bioinspired and Biobased 4D-Printing for Adaptive Building Facades
  Exploring how hygromorphic materials and computational fabrication enable climate-responsive architecture using cellulosic, biobased materials—translating plant-like motion into scalable, sustainable facade systems.

• Verena Vogler of McNeel Europe will present recent developments in Rhino and Grasshopper, highlighting R&D initiatives and a new plugin for ecological analysis. Grasshopper continues to serve as foundational infrastructure for many advanced design workflows, and this update will focus on integrating environmental intelligence into early design phases.

• Dr. Vittoria Laghi from the University of Bologna will explore how topology optimization and metal 3D printing can support a new generation of green steel construction. Her work combines knowledge from structural engineering, metallurgy, and digital fabrication to reduce material use in large-scale components.

• Dr. Luca Breseghello of DTU will present recent developments in lightweight concrete systems using robotic 3D printing. His research focuses on optimizing stress-based material placement in slabs and beams, validated through structural testing and life-cycle assessment—offering practical pathways toward more sustainable concrete construction.

• Julia Barashkov and Ben Drusinsky of Urban Futures Lab will introduce a framework for strategic urban foresight. Their methodology combines computational analysis with cultural data and stakeholder engagement to support resilient, adaptable urban systems—an approach applicable to planning, product ecosystems, and systems architecture alike.

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Looking Back: Architectural Contributions Across CDFAM

From New York to Berlin, architectural presentations at CDFAM have highlighted how design logic—when paired with data, simulation, and fabrication-aware workflows—can scale across materials, systems, and disciplines.

At CDFAM NYC 2023, keynote speaker Ronald Rael introduced Muddy Robots, a research initiative combining robotic additive manufacturing and earthen materials to reimagine sustainable, low-cost housing. His work reframed computation as a medium not only for efficiency but for material experimentation and ecological stewardship.

At CDFAM NYC 2024, Keyan Rahimzadeh of Formulate introduced Procedural BIM, demonstrating how complex architectural systems can be encoded as metadata networks. His talk outlined how this approach enabled the fabrication of 23,000 unique cold-bent glass panels—each defined and tracked within a scalable, logic-driven model.

Madeleine Eggers of KPF explored the foundational methods behind computational geometry in large-scale buildings. Rather than focusing on bespoke algorithms, her presentation broke down five elemental techniques—data branching, point sorting, plane-based calculation, cross-referencing, and surface rebuilding—that recur in almost every project. These core methods support clarity, consistency, and scalability—traits essential not just in architecture, but in any computational design workflow dealing with variation, constraint, and coordination.

“To me, this is computation’s value proposition: huge projects like KPF’s require a lot of coordination, optimization, and documentation, so computational design allows us to speed up design decisions, validate them quickly, and proactively anticipate change.”
— Madeleine Eggers, KPF

Also in New York, Sean Turner and Dauphin Flores of Henderson Engineers shared their transformation of legacy building systems tools into modular, reusable computational frameworks. By analyzing existing workflows and encoding them into graph databases, their team enabled optimization, traceability, and design automation—methods directly relevant to engineering and systems design challenges in other sectors.

At CDFAM Berlin 2024, Verena Vogler presented her work on ecological computation in Rhino, while Gabriel Garciaof Royal Haskoning DHV demonstrated how machine learning and 3D pathfinding are being applied to optimize MEP and cabling infrastructure—treating these subsystems as dynamic design networks rather than fixed technical requirements.

Preety Anand of BIG showcased the design and rationalization of the Raumfachwerk timber structure at Zurich Airport, emphasizing interoperability across software environments and adaptability across project stages. Her presentation reinforced how computational workflows must support shifting constraints—not just optimize fixed ones—particularly in projects where geometry, structure, and fabrication are tightly coupled.

Rick Titulaer returned to share Arup’s work on the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium renovation, where computational tools were used to simulate 682,000 façade configurations and reduce glare through data-driven rationalization. His talk demonstrated how such frameworks—initially applied to stadium design—can be adapted and scaled for use in everything from urban infrastructure to modular product systems.

“When I started in 2016, parametric tools like Grasshopper were used by a handful of people at Arup. Today, we have a network of over 800 computational designers.”
— Rick Titulaer, Arup

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Scaling Down Architectural Thinking

Many of the most impactful computational methods presented at CDFAM originated in architecture—but are now being applied far beyond buildings. Architects’ expertise in spatial reasoning, generative systems, geometric logic, and fabrication-aware modeling is increasingly shaping innovation in fields as varied as footwear, automotive components, and biomedical devices.

A standout example is Onur Yüce Gün, whose training in architecture underpins his work at New Balance. His CDFAM presentations have explored how computational workflows developed for complex structures—such as generative design, optimization, and surface logic—can be adapted for the design of advanced athletic footwear, including the development of custom lattice structures for performance tuning.

As computational design continues to transcend disciplines, architects remain at the forefront—not just designing buildings, but shaping the methodologies that define how things are made across industries.

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Where Disciplines Meet to Shape the Future

Whether you work in architecture, engineering, product design, software, aerospace, or medical technology, CDFAM Amsterdam 2025 offers a rare opportunity to engage with the leading edge of computational design.

Join us to explore the methods behind high-performance façades, lightweight concrete systems, ecological simulations, and custom-fit products—and connect with a community of researchers and professionals advancing computational thinking across materials, industries, and scales.

With a single-track program designed to foster focused exchange, CDFAM is where specialists in generative algorithms, advanced manufacturing, structural logic, and systems workflows come together to share tools, frameworks, and ideas. Register now to be part of the conversation.

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