Get to Know Us

Who we are

At the Block Research Group (BRG), we are a diverse team of experts dedicated to advancing architecture and structural engineering through groundbreaking research, innovative design, and computational methods.

We draw much of our inspiration from master builders, adopting historical structural and construction principles to develop novel solutions for contemporary challenges.

As pioneers in sustainable construction, we integrate architecture, engineering, and digital fabrication knowledge to create construction paradigms that minimise waste and reduce carbon emissions.

Our research topics cover i) analysis of masonry structures, ii) graphical analysis and design methods, iii) computational form finding and optimisation, iv) design and engineering of discrete assemblies, and v) digital fabrication and construction systems.

Our approach

The AEC industry faces challenges related to its impact on climate change, its contribution to resource consumption and scarcity, and its slow increase in efficiency and productivity due to low digitalisation. To address these, we focus on building skills in sustainable engineering, computational tools, integrated design, and emerging technologies like AI. Upskilling professionals in these areas is crucial.

We champion open collaboration, exemplified by COMPAS, an open-source computational framework initiated by the BRG that seamlessly brings together diverse expertise. COMPAS is continuously developed, advanced, and sustained by multiple Chairs at the Institute of Technology in Architecture (ITA) at ETH Zurich, with contributions from researchers at world-leading universities and industry practitioners.

We focus on innovation that can be transferred to industry, that can be scaled and impact a wide spectrum of construction projects. Our ETH spin-off, VAULTED, showcases our ability to translate cutting-edge research into practical applications, empowering professionals to adopt advanced design methodologies and sustainable practices.

We aim for our work to be relevant across diverse social, economic, cultural and geographical contexts.

Our goal

BRG started in 2009 with a strong focus on computational form finding, exploring how computational tools could push the boundaries of structural design. As we advanced, we recognised the importance of not only designing structures but also their construction systems.

Moving from isolated demonstrator projects, such as the Armadillo Vault and the Striatus Bridge, we began integrating innovation into traditional, real-life architectural projects, identifying difficult bottlenecks in introducing new technologies into standard practice. To overcome this, we then developed (computational) mechanisms for innovation transfer and integration, making it easier for project partners to adopt new technologies.

Today, our goal is to impact building processes holistically and expand our impact from one-offs to introducing innovation into standard construction projects – moving from the 0.1% to the 99.9%.

Find out more about us – download programme brochure.