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Schwinn, Tobias

Tobias Schwinn

Dr.-Ing.

Head of Research and Research Infrastructure
Institut für Computerbasiertes Entwerfen und Baufertigung
2011 - current

Contact

+49 711 685 81924
+49 711 685 71924
Email
Website

Keplerstraße 11
70174 Stuttgart
Deutschland
Room: 10.23

Subject

Agent-based modeling and simulation, robotic fabrication, segmented shell design, design methodology, ZukunftBau funding initiative

Publications

First author publications:

2023
1. Schwinn, T., Siriwardena, L., & Menges, A. (2023). Integrative Agent-Based Architectural Design Modelling for Segmented Timber Shells. Advances in Architectural Geometry 2023, 177–192. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111162683-014
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @inproceedings{Schwinn2023, author = {Schwinn, Tobias and Siriwardena, Lasath and Menges, Achim}, booktitle = {Advances in Architectural Geometry 2023}, doi = {10.1515/9783111162683-014}, month = {09}, pages = {177-192}, publisher = {De Gruyter}, title = {Integrative Agent-Based Architectural Design Modelling for Segmented Timber Shells}, url = {https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783111162683-014/html}, year = 2023 }
2021
1. Schwinn, T. (2021). A systematic approach for developing agent-based architectural design models of segmented shells : towards autonomously learned goal-oriented agent behaviors [Dissertation, Institute for Computational Design and Construction, University of Stuttgart]. https://doi.org/10.18419/OPUS-11633
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @phdthesis{Schwinn2021, address = {Stuttgart}, author = {Schwinn, Tobias}, copyright = {info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess}, doi = {10.18419/OPUS-11633}, isbn = {978-3-9819457-5-1}, language = {en}, month = {08}, publisher = {Institute for Computational Design and Construction, University of Stuttgart}, school = {University of Stuttgart}, title = {A systematic approach for developing agent-based architectural design models of segmented shells : towards autonomously learned goal-oriented agent behaviors}, type = {Dissertation}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.18419/opus-11633}, year = 2021 }
2019
1. Schwinn, T., Sonntag, D., Grun, T., Nebelsick, J. H., Knippers, J., & Menges, A. (2019). Potential applications of segmented shells in architecture. In J. Knippers, U. Schmid, & T. Speck (Eds.), Biomimetics for Architecture (pp. 116--125). De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783035617917-015
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @incollection{Schwinn2019, address = {Berlin, Boston}, author = {Schwinn, Tobias and Sonntag, Daniel and Grun, Tobias and Nebelsick, James H. and Knippers, Jan and Menges, Achim}, booktitle = {Biomimetics for Architecture}, doi = {10.1515/9783035617917-015}, editor = {Knippers, Jan and Schmid, Ulrich and Speck, Thomas}, file = {:C$\backslash$:/Users/localicdtschw/Documents/Mendeley Desktop/Schwinn et al/Biomimetics for Architecture/Schwinn et al. - 2019 - Potential applications of segmented shells in architecture.pdf:pdf}, month = {06}, pages = {116--125}, publisher = {De Gruyter}, title = {{Potential applications of segmented shells in architecture}}, url = {http://www.degruyter.com/view/books/9783035617917/9783035617917-015/9783035617917-015.xml}, year = 2019 }
2018
1. Schwinn, T., Krieg, O. D., & Menges, A. (2018). Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall: Robotically Fabricated Lightweight Timber Shell. In P. Yuan, A. Menges, & N. Leach (Eds.), Digital Fabrication (pp. 123--130). Tongji University Press.
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @incollection{Schwinn2018, address = {Shanghai}, author = {Schwinn, Tobias and Krieg, Oliver David and Menges, Achim}, booktitle = {Digital Fabrication}, editor = {Yuan, Philip and Menges, Achim and Leach, Neil}, isbn = {978-7560873343}, pages = {123--130}, publisher = {Tongji University Press}, title = {{Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall: Robotically Fabricated Lightweight Timber Shell}}, year = 2018 }
2016
1. Schwinn, T. (2016). Manufacturing Perspectives. In A. Menges, T. Schwinn, & O. D. Krieg (Eds.), Advancing Wood Architecture (pp. 185--198). Routledge.
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @incollection{Schwinn2016b, address = {New York}, author = {Schwinn, Tobias}, booktitle = {Advancing Wood Architecture}, chapter = 13, editor = {Menges, Achim and Schwinn, Tobias and Krieg, Oliver David}, isbn = {978-1-138-93298-2}, pages = {185--198}, publisher = {Routledge}, title = {{Manufacturing Perspectives}}, year = 2016 }
2. Schwinn, T., Krieg, O. D., & Menges, A. (2016). Robotic Sewing: A Textile Approach Towards the Computational Design and Fabrication of Lightweight Timber Shells. In K. Velikov, S. Ahlquist, M. del Campo, & G. Thün (Eds.), ACADIA 2016: Posthuman Frontiers: Data, Designers, and Cognitive Machines - Proceedings of the 36th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (pp. 224--233).
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @inproceedings{Schwinn2016, abstract = {Unlike any other building material, timber has seen numerous innovations in design, manufacturing, and assembly processes in recent years. Currently available technology not only allows architects to freely shape building elements but also to define their micro- or macroscopic material make-up and therefore the material itself. At the same time, timber shells have become a focus of research in wood architecture by rethinking both construction typologies and material application. Their main advantage, however, also poses a challenge to its construction: As the shell is both the load-bearing structure as well as enclosure, its segmentation and the individual segment's connections become increasingly important. Their complex and often differentiated geometries do not allow for standardized timber joints, and with decreasing material thickness, conventional connection techniques become less feasible. The research presented in this paper investigates textile strategies for the fabrication of ultra-lightweight timber shells in architecture. Specifically, a robotic sewing method is developed in conjunction with a computational design method for the development of a new construction system that was evaluated through a large-scale prototype building.}, address = {Ann Arbor}, author = {Schwinn, Tobias and Krieg, Oliver David and Menges, Achim}, booktitle = {ACADIA 2016: Posthuman Frontiers: Data, Designers, and Cognitive Machines - Proceedings of the 36th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture}, editor = {Velikov, Kathy and Ahlquist, Sean and del Campo, Matias and Th{\"{u}}n, Geoffrey}, file = {:C$\backslash$:/Users/localicdtschw/Documents/Mendeley Desktop/Schwinn, Krieg, Menges/ACADIA 2016 Posthuman Frontiers Data, Designers, and Cognitive Machines - Proceedings of the 36th Annual Conference of the Association for C./Schwinn, Krieg, Menges - 2016 - Rob.pdf:pdf}, mendeley-groups = {Own work/RP16}, pages = {224--233}, title = {{Robotic Sewing: A Textile Approach Towards the Computational Design and Fabrication of Lightweight Timber Shells}}, year = 2016 }
3. Schwinn, T. (2016). Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall. In A. Menges, T. Schwinn, & O. D. Krieg (Eds.), Advancing Wood Architecture : A Computational Approach (pp. 111--124). Routledge.
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @incollection{Schwinn2016, address = {New York}, author = {Schwinn, Tobias}, booktitle = {Advancing Wood Architecture : A Computational Approach}, editor = {Menges, Achim and Schwinn, Tobias and Krieg, Oliver David}, isbn = {978-1-138-93298-2}, pages = {111--124}, publisher = {Routledge}, title = {{Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall}}, year = 2016 }
2015
1. Schwinn, T., & Menges, A. (2015). Fabrication Agency: Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall. Architectural Design, 85(5), Article 5. https://doi.org/10.1002/ad.1960
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @article{Schwinn2015, abstract = {Advances in computation challenge established design approaches in architecture through a much deeper integration of form generation and materialisation. Tobias Schwinn, Research Associate at the Institute for Computational Design (ICD), University of Stuttgart, and Guest-Editor Achim Menges, Director of the ICD, introduce how the potentials and constraints of robotic fabrication can now be explored as generative drivers in agent-based design. This enables architectural innovation in unison with fabricability, structural capacity and spatial performance, as demonstrated by the Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall in Schw{\"{a}}bisch Gm{\"{u}}nd, Germany, the world's first building with a robotically fabricated segmented timber shell as its primary structure.}, author = {Schwinn, Tobias and Menges, Achim}, doi = {10.1002/ad.1960}, file = {:C$\backslash$:/Users/localicdtschw/Documents/Mendeley Desktop/Schwinn, Menges/Architectural Design/Schwinn, Menges - 2015 - Fabrication Agency Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall.pdf:pdf}, issn = {00038504}, journal = {Architectural Design}, month = {09}, number = 5, pages = {92--99}, title = {{Fabrication Agency: Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall}}, url = {http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/ad.1960}, volume = 85, year = 2015 }
2. Schwinn, T., Krieg, O. D., & Menges, A. (2015). Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall: Robotically Fabricated Lightweight Timber Shell. In P. Yuan, A. Menges, & N. Leach (Eds.), Robotic Futures (pp. 118--123). Tongji University Press.
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @incollection{Schwinn2015a, abstract = {The Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall is a building prototype that demonstrates on-going research into new architectural opportunities for lightweight timber construction. Enabled by integrative computational design and robotic fabrication methods, it is the first segmented timber plate shell to have its primary structure robotically pre-fabricated from beech plywood. With a relative shell thickness of only 1/200, the building is not only structurally performative and resource efficient, but being made from the locally available and renewable resource wood, it is also an example for a socially and economically integrated sustainable architecture.}, address = {Shanghai}, author = {Schwinn, Tobias and Krieg, Oliver David and Menges, Achim}, booktitle = {Robotic Futures}, editor = {Yuan, P. and Menges, Achim and Leach, Neil}, isbn = {978-7-5608-5845-6}, pages = {118--123}, publisher = {Tongji University Press}, title = {{Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall: Robotically Fabricated Lightweight Timber Shell}}, year = 2015 }
2014
1. Schwinn, T., Krieg, O. D., & Menges, A. (2014). Behavioral Strategies: Synthesizing design computation and robotic fabrication of lightweight timber plate structures. Design Agency Proceedings of the 34th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA), 177--188. http://cumincad.scix.net/cgi-bin/works/Show?acadia14\_177
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @inproceedings{Schwinn2014, abstract = {The research described in the paper investigates the potential of behavior-based strategies, such as Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) and behavioral form finding, to facilitate the synthesis of computational design and robotic fabrication with regards to performative lightweight timber plate structures. In the first part, the authors provide an overview on the related topics agent systems and planar approximation of complex geometry. In the second part, an integrative computational design methodology is presented that enables the realization of a novel construction system for timber plate structures including a custom robotic fabrication process. The last part of the paper is dedicated to the architectural case study building “Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall” that has been designed, robotically fabricated and constructed to test and evaluate this novel computation- al design methodology for timber plate structures.}, address = {Los Angeles}, author = {Schwinn, Tobias and Krieg, Oliver David and Menges, Achim}, booktitle = {Design Agency [Proceedings of the 34th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA)]}, file = {:C$\backslash$:/Users/localicdtschw/Documents/Mendeley Desktop/Schwinn, Krieg, Menges/Design Agency Proceedings of the 34th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA)/Schwinn, Krieg, Menges - 2014 - Behavioral Strategi.pdf:pdf}, isbn = {9781926724478}, mendeley-groups = {Behavioural Fabrication,Own work/LG14,PhD,PhD/2-ABMS,PhD/6-Case-II}, pages = {177--188}, title = {{Behavioral Strategies: Synthesizing design computation and robotic fabrication of lightweight timber plate structures}}, url = {http://cumincad.scix.net/cgi-bin/works/Show?acadia14{\_}177}, year = 2014 }
2013
1. Schwinn, T., Krieg, O. D., & Menges, A. (2013). Robotically Fabricated Wood Plate Morphologies. In S. Brell-Cokcan & J. Braumann (Eds.), Rob | Arch 2012 (pp. 48--61). Springer Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1465-0_4
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @incollection{Schwinn2013, abstract = {Due to their relative affordability and ease of use industrial manipulators aka robots have become increasingly common in the field of architectural experimentation and research. Specifically for timber construction, their higher degrees of kinematic freedom and fabricational flexibility, compared to established and process-specific computer numerically controlled (CNC) wood working machines, allow for new design and fabrication strategies or else the reinterpretation and re-appropriation of existing techniques — both of which offer the potential for novel architectural systems. In the case study presented here an investigation into the transfer of morphological principles of a biological role model (Clypeasteroida) is initiated by the robotic implementation of a newly developed finger-joint fabrication process. In the subsequent biomimetic design process the principles are translated into a generative computational design tool incorporating structural constraints as well as those of robotic fabrication leading to a fullscale built prototype.}, address = {Vienna}, author = {Schwinn, Tobias and Krieg, Oliver David and Menges, Achim}, booktitle = {Rob | Arch 2012}, chapter = 4, doi = {10.1007/978-3-7091-1465-0_4}, editor = {Brell-{\c{C}}okcan, Sigrid and Braumann, Johannes}, file = {:C$\backslash$:/Users/localicdtschw/Documents/Mendeley Desktop/Schwinn, Krieg, Menges/Rob Arch 2012/Schwinn, Krieg, Menges - 2013 - Robotically Fabricated Wood Plate Morphologies.pdf:pdf}, isbn = {978-3709114643}, pages = {48--61}, publisher = {Springer Vienna}, title = {{Robotically Fabricated Wood Plate Morphologies}}, url = {http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-7091-1465-0{\_}4 http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-7091-1465-0{\_}4}, year = 2013 }
2. Schwinn, T., Magna, R. L., Reichert, S., Waimer, F., Knippers, J., & Menges, A. (2013). Prototyping Biomimetic Structures for Architecture. In M. Stacey (Ed.), Prototyping Architecture: The Conference Papers (pp. 224--244). The Building Centre Trust.
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @inproceedings{Schwinn2013, address = {London}, author = {Schwinn, Tobias and Magna, Riccardo La and Reichert, Steffen and Waimer, Frederic and Knippers, Jan and Menges, Achim}, booktitle = {Prototyping Architecture: The Conference Papers}, editor = {Stacey, Michael}, file = {:C$\backslash$:/Users/localicdtschw/Documents/Mendeley Desktop/Schwinn et al/Prototyping Architecture The Conference Papers/Schwinn et al. - 2013 - Prototyping Biomimetic Structures for Architecture.pdf:pdf}, isbn = {978-0-901919-17-5}, pages = {224--244}, publisher = {The Building Centre Trust}, title = {{Prototyping Biomimetic Structures for Architecture}}, year = 2013 }
2012
1. Schwinn, T. (2012). Programmable Logic. In N. Leach (Ed.), Scripting the Future (pp. 56--61). Tongji University Press.
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @incollection{Schwinn2012a, address = {Shanghai}, author = {Schwinn, Tobias}, booktitle = {Scripting the Future}, editor = {Leach, Neil}, isbn = {978-7-5608-4835-8}, pages = {56--61}, publisher = {Tongji University Press}, title = {{Programmable Logic}}, year = 2012 }

Teaching

2023-24

Behavioural Design and Fabrication, Seminar (Fall/Winter 2023/24)
Computational Design Techniques and Design Thinking, Seminar (Fall/Winter 2023/24)
Cyber-Physical Agent-Based Models for Swarm Construction (2022), Workshop, DigitalFUTURES

2022-23

Computational Design and Digital Fabrication, Seminar (Summer 2023)
Behavioural Design and Fabrication, Seminar (Fall/Winter 2022/23)
Computational Design Techniques and Design Thinking, Seminar (Fall/Winter 2022/23)

2021-22

Agent-based Modelling for Materialization-informed Architectural Design (2022), Workshop, DigitalFUTURES
Computational Design and Digital Fabrication (Spring/Summer 2022), Seminar
Behavioural Fabrication, Seminar (Fall/Winter 2021/22)
Computational Design Techniques and Design Thinking, Seminar (Fall/Winter 2021/22)

2021

Computational Design and Digital Fabrication, Seminar (Spring/Summer 2021)
Introduction to Agent-based Modeling (2021), Workshop, The Bartlett, UCL, London

2020

Behavioural Fabrication, Seminar (Fall/Winter 2020/21)
Computational Design Techniques and Design Thinking, Seminar (Fall/Winter 2020/21)
Computational Design and Digital Fabrication, Seminar (Spring/Summer 2021)

2019

Behavioural Fabrication, Seminar (Fall/Winter 2019/20)
Computational Design Techniques and Design Thinking, Seminar (Fall/Winter 2019/20)
Computational Design and Digital Fabrication, Seminar (Spring/Summer 2019)

PRIOR TO 2019

Thesis:

Studios / Pavilions:

Seminars:

Computational Design Techniques and Design Thinking Seminar:
- Fall/Winter 2018/19
- Fall/Winter 2017/18
Computational Design and Digital Fabrication Seminar:
Behavioural Fabrication Seminar:
- Fall/Winter 2018/19
- Spring/Summer 2016
Architectural Biomimetics 2014/15

Workshops:

KUKA-certified Basic Robot Programming workshop, since 2015 bi-anually. University of Stuttgart in collaboration with KUKA College Augsburg
Robotic Sewing of Timber Veneer, 2016. RobArch Conference, Sydney
Wood Plate Morphologies, 2014. Monash University, Melbourne
Future Traditions, 2013. University of Porto (FAUP), Porto
Wood Morphologies, 2012. RobArch Conference, Stuttgart
Parametric Design Workshop, 2011. METU, Ankara

Tobias Schwinn is a senior researcher and lecturer (Akademischer Rat) at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) at the University of Stuttgart, Germany. In research and teaching, he is focusing on behavior-based approaches for integrating robotic fabrication and computational design processes in the context of segmented shell structures. He is one of the founding members and currently leader of ICD's "Agent-based Modeling and Simulation" research group, where he supports colleagues in their diverse research areas, such as design of adaptive buildings, fabrication-oriented design of modular concrete structures, and distributed robotics. As Head of Research and Research Infrastructure, he is in charge of the robotic fabrication equipment at the institute's Robolab and the Computational Construction Laboratory in Wangen.

Prior to joining the ICD in 2011, Tobias worked as a Senior Designer for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP in New York and London applying computational design approaches such as parametric design and scripting to automation, complex geometry, and sustainability at all design stages.

Tobias studied architecture at the Bauhaus-University in Weimar, Germany and at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia as part of the US-EU Joint Consortium for Higher Education. He received his diploma-engineering degree in 2005.
He has been invited studio critic at Columbia GSAPP, Harvard GSD, Pratt Institute, AA London and has taught various workshops on computational design and digital fabrication, among others at University of Sydney as part of the Robotics in Architecture Conference in 2016, at Monash University in Melbourne (MADA) in 2014, at the University of Porto (FAUP) in 2013, at TU Vienna as part of the Robotics in Architecture Conference in 2012, at the Middle Eastern Technical University in Ankara (METU) in 2011, the University of East London (UEL), or the master course at the Dessau Institute of Architecture (DIA).

Projects:

Research:

Behaviour-based Design, Fabrication and Construction of Segmented Shells - Doctoral Research
Segmented Shell Structures - Collaborative Research Centre Transregio 141 (DFG)
Robotic Fabrication in Timber Construction - Cluster Forst und Holz Initiative (EFRE/BW)

Lectures:

2021:

R&I Community Talk at SOM - Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
ICD Research Talk: A Systematic Approach for Developing Agent-based... - University of Stuttgart
Adaptive Ansätze in Entwurf und Fertigung in der Architektur - Hochschule Anhalt
Presentation at PhD defense - University of Stuttgart

Scientific review committee:

Fabricate 2020, UCL, London
ACADIA 2019, Austin, TX
Research Culture in Architecture 2018, Kaiserslautern
Robots in Architecture 2018, Zürich
Fabricate 2017, Stuttgart
ACADIA 2016, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Advances in Architectural Geometry 2016, Zurich
Smart Geometry 2016, Gothenburg
Robots in Architecture 2016, Sydney
ACADIA 2014, Los Angeles
Advances in Architectural Geometry 2014, London
ACADIA 2012, San Francisco

Tobias Schwinn

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2023

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2019

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2016

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Tobias Schwinn

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2023

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2021

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2019

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2018

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2016

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2015

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2014

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2013

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2012

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