R+D Reaction & Diffusion is ro[BO]tech’s project for 2112Ai [Architectural Intelligence] – 100YC exhibition that was also shown at the 13th International Architecture Exhibition in Venezia.
The current society researches a users interconnection even more global and immediate. This is considerably influenced by economy: Kevin Kelly in 1998 in his essay “New rules for the new economy” introduced the concept of network economy in which each operator is connected with others. Information, glue of connections, needs to express and spatially define itself and Architecture must consider this need. Reaction-diffusion models, described in “The chemical basis of morphogenesis” by Alan Turing, generate a spatial organization based on two independent factors in competition. In the future we expect the statement of the Artificial Intelligence in which technology and organization are no longer separable from a performance standpoint, just think of supercomputers and projects associated with them. Thinking about information connections as a similar structure to the neural network is probably the most suitable abstraction in this sense, so we’ve studied the neural modeling as a basis for the morphogenetic paradigm of the project for Maribor in 2112. The Fitzhugh-Nagumo model describes mathematically the process of activation/deactivation of the neuronal membrane and also appears in nature in the form of reaction-diffusion system with the peculiarity of generating patterns. This model, at different scales, thanks to its variety of behaviors, defines a possible future scenario of the center of the city of Maribor, keeping in mind the need to respond to the ever-increasing population of our planet.
“R+D Reaction & Diffusion” was presented at the 13th International Architecture Exhibition at the Slovenian Pavilion by ro[BO]tech team comprised of Giulia Bottura, Ilaria Fiorini, Pier Luigi Forte, and Lorenzo Natali. The current society researches a user’s interconnection even more globally and immediate. This is considerably influenced by economy: Kevin Kelly in 1998 essay ”New Rules for the New Economy” introduced the concept of network economy in which each operator is connected with others. Information as the glue for connections needs to express and spatially define itself and architecture must consider this need.
Reaction-diffusion models, described in ”The Chemical Basis of Morphogenesis” by Alan Turing, generate a spatial organization based on two independent factors in competition. In the future we expect the instatement of artificial intelligence in which technology and organization are no longer separable from a performance standpoint. Just think of supercomputers and projects associated with them.Thinking about information connections as a similar structure to the neural-network is probably the most suitable abstraction in this sense, so ro[BO]tech team studied the neural modeling as a basis for the morphogenetic paradigm of the project for Maribor, Slovenia in 2012.
The Fitzhugh-Nagumo model describes mathematically the process of activation and deactivation of the neuronal membrane and also appears in nature in the form of reaction-diffusion system with the peculiarity of generating patterns. This model, at different scales, thanks to its variety of behaviors, defines a possible future scenario of the center of the city of Maribor, keeping in mind the need to respond to the ever-increasing population of our planet. Read more.
Ibrahim Abdelhady is an architect, academic, and media entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in architecture and digital publishing. He is the Founder and CEO of Arch2O.com, a leading platform in architectural media, renowned for showcasing innovative projects, student work, and critical discourse in design. Holding dual PhDs in Architecture, Dr. Abdelhady combines academic rigor with industry insight, shaping both future architects and architectural thought. He actively teaches, conducts research, and contributes to the global architecture community through his writing, lectures, and media ventures. His work bridges the gap between practice and academia, pushing the boundaries of how architecture is communicated in the digital age.