Prof. Dr. Karola Dierichs
Karola Dierichs holds the Cluster Professorship »Material and Code«. Previously she has been a Research Associate at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) within the Cluster of Excellence »Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture« (IntCDC). She was conferred a doctoral degree with distinction from the University of Stuttgart.
At the ICD she has conducted research on »Granular Architectures«, where she has developed designed granular materials in architecture. She has been engaged in transdisciplinary research collaborating nationally and internationally, among others with the Institute for Multiscale Simulation (MSS) at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, the Jaeger Lab at the University of Chicago and the Behringer Lab at Duke University.
Her research has been published and exhibited internationally and has won several awards.
Material Form Function (Principal Investigator)
Object Space Agency (Principal Investigator)
Weaving (Cluster Professor)
Material Form Function (Cluster Professor)
Object Space Agency (Cluster Professor)
weissensee school of art and design berlin
Bühringstraße 20
13086 Berlin
Architectural Design
Computational Design
Designing Matter
Articles in Edited Volumes
Dierichs, K., Menges, A. 2021. »Emergent enclosures: granular architectures.« In Digital Fabrication in Interior Design: Body, Object, Enclosure, edited by Anderson, J., Weinthal, L. New York: Routledge, 157-174.
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003025931
Dierichs, K., Penner, K. 2013. »Material geometry: developing architectural articulations of interiority based on geometry-inherent surface materiality.« Städelschule Architecture Class. In The Small Book of Interiority, edited by Bettum, J., Savov, A. 14-17.
Articles
Dierichs, K., Menges, A. 2021. »Designing architectural materials: from granular form to functional granular material.« Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 16 (6): 065010.
https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-3190/ac2987
Dierichs, K., Kyjánek, O., Loučka, M., Menges, A. 2019. »Construction robotics for designed granular materials: in situ construction with designed granular materials at full architectural scale using a cable-driven parallel robot.« Construction Robotics, 3 (1-4): 41-52.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41693-019-00024-6
Barés, J., Zhao, Y., Renouf, M., Dierichs, K., Behringer, R. 2017. »Structure of hexapod 3D packings: understanding the global stability from the local organization.« EPJ Web of Conferences, 140: 06021.
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201714006021
Dierichs, K., Menges, A. 2017. »Granular construction: designed particles for macro-scale architectural structures.« Architectural Design, 87 (4): 88-93.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ad.2200
Zhao, Y., Ding, J., Barés, J., Zheng, H., Dierichs, K., Menges, A., Behringer, R. 2017. »Vibrational collapse of hexapod packings.« EPJ Web of Conferences, 140: 06011.
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201714006011
Dierichs, K., Menges, A. 2016. »Towards an aggregate architecture: designed granular systems as programmable matter in architecture.« Granular Matter, 18 (2)
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-016-0631-3
Zhao, Y., Liu, K., Zheng, M., Barés, J., Dierichs, K., Menges, A., Behringer, R. P. 2016. »Packings of 3D stars: stability and structure.« Granular Matter, 18 (2)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-016-0606-4
Dierichs, K., Menges, A. 2015. »Granular morphologies: programming material behaviour with designed aggregates.« Architectural Design, 85 (5): 86-91.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ad.1959
Dierichs, K., Menges, A. 2012. »Aggregate structures: Material and Machine Computation of Designed Granular Substances.« Architectural Design, 82 (2): 74-81.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ad.1382
Conference Proceedings
Dierichs, K., Wood, D., Correa, D., Menges, A. 2017. »Smart granular materials.« Disciplines & Disruption: Proceedings of the 37th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA), Cambridge, MA 2-4 November, 2017. 222-231.
Rusenova, G., Dierichs, K., Baharlou, E., Menges, A. 2016. »Feedback- and data-driven design for aggregate architectures: analyses of data collections for physical and numerical prototypes of designed granular materials.« In Posthuman Frontiers: Data, Designers, and Cognitive Machines, Proceedings of the 36th Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA), Ann Arbor. 62-72.
Angelova, D., Dierichs, K., Menges, A. 2015. »Graded light in aggregate structures: modelling the daylight in designed granular systems using online controlled robotic processes.« Real Time: Proceedings of the 33rd eCAADe Conference, ed. Martens, B., Wurzer, G., Grasl, T., Lorenz, W. E., Schaffranek, R. 399-406.
Dierichs, K., Angelova, D., Menges, A. 2015. »Modelling aggregate behaviour.« Presented at the Design Modelling Symposium, Centre for Information Technology and Architecture, Copenhagen, 01.10.2015. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 5.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24208-8_1
Dierichs, K., Menges, A. 2015. »Non-convex designed aggregates as architectural material systems.« Proceedings of the Particle Simulations Conference, ed. Pöschel, T., Mueller, P., Scholz, C. 96-97.
Dierichs, K., Menges, A. 2015. »Simulation of aggregate structures in architecture: distinct-element modeling of synthetic non-convex granulates.« Advances in Architectural Geometry 2014, ed. Block, P., Knippers, J., Mitra, N., Wang, W. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 1-13.
Topic, N., Pöschel, T., Dierichs, K., Menges, A. 2015. »Packings of complex shaped particles in cylinders.« Proceedings of the Particle Simulations Conference, ed. Pöschel, T., Mueller, P.. Scholz, C. 53-54.
Dierichs, K., Menges, A. 2013. »Aggregate architecture: simulation models for synthetic non-convex granulates.« In Adaptive Architecture, Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA) Waterloo/Buffalo/Nottingham. 301-310.
Dierichs, K., Schwinn, T., Menges, A. 2013. »Robotic pouring of aggregate structures: responsive motion planning strategies for online robot control of granular pouring processes with synthetic macro-scale particles.« Vienna: Springer, 196-205.
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-7091-1465-0_23
Dierichs, K., Menges, A. 2012. »Aggregate architectures: observing and designing with changeable material systems in architecture.« Change, Architecture, Education, Practices: Proceedings of the International ACSA Conference, ed. Costa, X., Thorne, M. 463–468.
Dierichs, K., Menges, A. 2012. »Functionally graded aggregate structures: digital additive manufacturing with designed granulates.« In Synthetic Digital Ecologies, Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA), San Francisco. 295-304.
Dierichs, K., Menges, A. 2012. »Material and machine computation of designed granular matter: rigid-body dynamics simulations as a design tool for robotically-poured aggregate structures consisting of polygonal concave particles.« Digital Physicality – Proceedings of the 30th eCAADe Conference – Volume 2, ed. Achten, H., Pavlicek, J., Hulin, J., Matejdan, D. 711-719.
http://papers.cumincad.org/cgi-bin/works/Show?ecaade2012_60
Dierichs, K., Fleissner, F., Menges, A. 2011. »Interrelation of experiment and simulation in the development of aggregate architectures.« Proceedings of the International Symposion on Algorithmic Design for Architecture and Urban Design (ALGODE).
Dierichs, K., Menges, A. 2011. »Material und machine computation als Grundlage experimenteller Ästhetik in der Aggregat Architektur.« Kongress-Akten des VIII. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Ästhetik 2011, Band 2: Experimentelle Ästhetik, ed. Schwarte, L.
http://www.dgae.de/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Dierichs.pdf
Krieg, O., Dierichs, K., Reichert, S., Schwinn, T., Menges, A. 2011. »Performative architectural morphology finger-Joined plate structures integrating robotic manufacturing, biological principles and location-specific requirements.« Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer, 259-266.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-23435-4_29
Krieg, O. D., Dierichs, K., Reichert, S., Schwinn, T., Menges, A. 2011. »Performative architectural morphology: robotically manufactured biomimetic finger-joined plate structures.« Respecting Fragile Places, 29th eCAADe Conference Proceedings. eCAADe Conference, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Architecture (Slovenia), 21-24 September 2011. 573-580.
Dierichs, K., Menges, A. 2010. »Material computation in architectural aggregate systems.« In Formation: On Responsive Information and Variations in Architecture, Proceedings of the 30th Conference of the Association For Computer Aided Design In Architecture (ACADIA), New York City. 372-78.
Dierichs, K., Menges, A. 2010. »Natural aggregation processes as models for architectural material systems.« Presented at Design & Nature V: Comparing Design in Nature with Science and Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, 28.06.2010. WIT Press, 17.
https://doi.org/10.2495/DN100031
Others
Dierichs, K. 2020. Granular Architectures: Granular Materials as »Designer Matter« in Architecture. Research Reports Institute for Computational Design and Construction, 2, University of Stuttgart.
https://doi.org/10.18419/opus-10765
Architectural Projects
Dierichs, K., Menges, A., Arias, C., Al Bahar, B., Bonavia, E., Forestiero, F., Giachini, P., Katz, S., Mballa-Ekobena, A., Yunis, L., Zindroski, J. 2018. ICD Aggregate Pavilion 2018. Architectural Project. Cable Robotics – Ondrej Kyjanek, Martin Loucka, Manufacturing – Wilhelm Weber GmbH & Co. KG. Funded by GETTYLAB and ITASCA Consulting Inc. Since 1 January 2018, Hybrid.
https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/icd-aggregate-pavilion-2018/
Exhibitions
Douny, L., Krauthausen, K., Sattler, F., Dierichs, K., Evans, M., Hengge, R., Sauer, S., Beyer, B., Eder, M., Hathroubi, S., Hernández Lobato, J. I., researchers and community from Burkina Faso. Daoula Sheen (forthcoming). Exhibition. Tieranatomisches Theater, Ougadougou and Safané, Burkina Faso. 23 September 2022 - 31 December 2022.
Patents
Dierichs, K., Menges, A., Schwinn, T. 2012. Herstellung Architektonischer Strukturen aus Aggregaten Konkaver Gebilde. DE102012100334A1 filed on 16 January 2012.
Dierichs, K. 2008. Method for producing a shaped body. Verfahren zum Herstellen eines Formkörpers. DE102008049408B4 issued on 14 April 2011.
Talks & Presentations
Dierichs, K. Self-folding Particles as Architectural Construction Materials. Panel Presentation at the INCOSE NWSG International Workshop 2022, Folding in Natural Systems and Design, International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), San Diego. Virtual. 29 January 2022.
Dierichs, K. Shape-changing Particles in Designed Granular Materials. Talk at the CurvoBio 2022 Workshop, Harnack House, Berlin. 26 August 2022.
https://www.curvobio.com/upcomming-events
Bonavia, E., Mballa-Ekobena, A., Farmer, J., Douny, L., Rosenthal, N., Stoll, M., Wenig, C., Dierichs, K. Augmented Spinning: Haptic Construction of a Filament-based Architectural Material System. Talk at the 25th Annual DRHA Conference »Digital Matters: Designing/Performing Agency for the Anthropocene«, Scene, Atmosphere & Architecture. Heilig-Geist-Kapelle, Berlin. Organized by the Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity. Image Space Material«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, in cooperation with the Cluster of Excellence EXC 2020 »Temporal Communities: Doing Literature in a Global Perspective«, Freie Universität Berlin, and the practice-based research project »Viral Theatres«. Hybrid. 5 September 2021.
https://www.drha.uk/2021/program-2/#h.hsg54n4r2ivu
Dean, M. N., Dierichs, K. Tessellated Material Systems. Talk at the Designing Matter Series. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Virtual. 21 September 2021.
Dierichs, K. Designing Matter: Granular Architectures. Lecture at the »hallo biologie # 1«, CyPhyLab Lecture Series, CyPhyLab, Technische Universität Berlin. Virtual. 9 June 2021.
https://www.architektur.tu-berlin.de/fileadmin/i41/Aktuelles/SoSe2021_FG_Werner_hallo_biologie_v4.pdf
Dierichs, K. Programming Matter: Designed Granular Materials for Architectural Construction. Erlangen. 18 September 2019.
http://www.mss.cbi.fau.de/content/uploads/msssem_129_Dierichs-1.pdf
Events & Workshops
Achim Menges (Lecturer), Karola Dierichs, Carolin Ott, Antje Nestler, Franziska Wegener (Organizers) Talking Matters: Computational Material Culture in Architecture. Matters of Activity, Berlin. 12 July 2022.
Dierichs, K. (Organizer), Lindenberg, K. (Lecturer) MoA Colloquium 2: Methods of Computational Design in the Context of Materialization. weißensee school of art and design berlin. Hybrid. 8 February 2022.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/7404/methods-of-computational-design-in-the-context-of-materialization
Lienhard, J. (Lecturer), Dierichs, K. (Organizer) MoA Colloquium 3: Multiple Equilibria. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Hybrid. 10 June 2022.
Dierichs, K. (Organizer), Knippers, J. (Lecturer) MoA Colloquium 1: Integrative Computational Design for Architecture. weißensee school of art and design berlin. Hybrid. 1 July 2021.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/5881/integrative-computational-design-for-architecture
Dörfler, K., Rust, R. (Lecturers), Dierichs, K., Ott, C., Nestler, A. (Organizers) Talking Matters: Human-in-the-Loop – How Human-Machine Collaboration Could Shape the Future of Digital Design and Fabrication. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Virtual. 18 May 2021.
Stock, R., Dierichs, K., Bonavia, E., Zachow, S., Rodriguez, L., Le Calvé, M., Gholami, M. F., Kim, Y. Workshop »Sounding Invisible Boundaries. Experiments in Haptic Thinking«. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Hybrid. 2 June 2021.
Teaching & Courses
Dierichs, K., Bonavia, E., Douny, L., Eder, M., Farmer, J., Rosenthal, N., Stoll, M., Wenig, C. Minimal Machines 1 - Augmented Spinning. MoA Design Research Studio, weißensee school of art and design berlin. 6 April 2021 - 13 July 2021.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/posts/7360
Dierichs, K., Eder, M., Stoll, M., Fratzl, P., Wegener, F. MoA Graduate School Workshop: Teaching Modules for Materials Science, Design and Cultural Science. Workshop, Doctoral Program »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin. 29 November 2021 - 10 December 2021.
Dierichs, K., Farmer, J., Rasehorn, F., Stoll, M., Bonavia, E., Dean, M., Eder, M., Hehemeyer-Cürten, J., Wenig, C., Yang, B., Nyakatura, J. A. Designing Matter 2: From Tile to Tesselation. Seminar, weißensee school of art and design berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces. 18 October 2021 - 15 February 2022.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/7442/designing-matter-2-from-tile-to-tesselation
Dierichs, K., Farmer, J., Bonavia, E., Mballa-Ekobena, A., Douny, L., Eder, M., Rosenthal, N., Stoll, M. Designing Matter 1 - From Filament to Fabric. MoA Design Research Studio, weißensee school of art and design berlin. 5 October 2020 - 26 March 2021.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/3454/designing-matter-1-from-filament-to-fabric
Dierichs, K., Sauer, C., Eder, M., Guiducci, L., Razghandi, K., Fransén Waldhör, E., Schneider, M., Stoll, M. Scaling Nature (3) - Growth. MoA Design Research Studio, weißensee school of art and design berlin. 14 April 2020 - 17 July 2020.
https://www.kh-berlin.de/projekt-detail/Project/detail/scaling-nature-3-growth-i-moa-design-research-studio-3216.html
External Grants, Fellowships, Scholarships & Residencies
Dierichs, K., Rusenova, G. 2020. Programme for Project-Related Personal Exchange (PPP). DAAD, Academic Exchange.
Dierichs, K. 2020. Terra Incognita, University of Stuttgart. DFG, Project funding.
https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/research/research-projects/autonomous-granular-materials-in-architecture-agma/
Hosting of Guest Researchers at the Cluster
Skoury, L., Rosenthal, N., Dean, M., Eder, M., Dierichs, K. Agent-based frameworks for fibrous and tessellated material systems. Hosting Lior Skoury. from Institute for Computational Design and Construction, University of Stuttgart. 1 June 2022 - 31 August 2022.
Review Activities & Expertises
Dierichs, K. Since 2018. Robots in Architecture Art and Design Conference, Zurich, CH. Member of Papers Committee.
Dierichs, K. 2015 - 2016. Guest Reviewer. Granular Matter, Springer Nature, Special Edition Jamming-based Aleatory Architectures.
https://link.springer.com/journal/10035/topicalCollection/AC_6cbb887e279bd57be290539c086c5430