archEatable
Name + Surname: Jose Antonio Carrillo Andrada
Nationality: Spanish
Institution: American University in Dubai (Associate Professor of Architecture)
A journey through architecture and “Haute Pâtisserie”
archEatable is a university course designed with a unique and non-conventional academic approach to teaching architecture.
12 students were asked to design edible works of art supported in the use of architectural concept design processes, specific software like Rhinoceros & Grasshopper and in machinery for digital fabrication like 3d printers and laser cutters. Once they had the physical prototype made they manufactured food grade silicone molds in order to make the final edible works of art .
Seeking to promote trans and inter-disciplinarity at both professional and university level, the course had several external components. First, students established a collaboration with professional pastry chefs. They worked together at the chef’s off campus facilities to learn which techniques were more suitable to make the cakes come true. At university level, the course took on board students of the School of Communication who were documenting all this journey. Finally, students presented the results in an event open to all the industry, academics and students in Dubai Design District.
The course aimed to explore the borders of teaching in architecture through a non-conventional methodology which question the standards on how to educate future architects today. It introduced the students to crossed professional collaborations, to innovation and research, and to a guided trial-and-error ideation and fabrication process with unpredictable but certainly stimulating results.