FORM STUDY 001 / LIGHT & MATTERIN MOTION
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International online masterclass Edition 01 / 2027

FROM AI
TO MATTER.

From Design to Fabrication

Aldo SollazzoWith Aldo SollazzoPhoenix × LAMÁQUINA

A shared studio at the intersection of
artificial intelligence, architecture and making.

Explore the masterclass
Five live workshops21 JAN —
04 FEB 2027
Final jury · 12 February 2027
Jointly developed & taught by Phoenix × LAMÁQUINAAnimated architectural form study
05 Live workshops15 Teaching hours05 Team prototypes01 Winning full-scale prototype
01 / The experienceDigital intention. Material intelligence.

Give your
ideas form.

A compelling image is a beginning.
What happens when you have to make it?

From AI to Matter follows that question from the first design exploration to a physical façade prototype. Work with generative tools, develop the geometry, test material decisions and learn how a proposal can move towards fabrication.

This is a collaborative, project-based studio: five live workshops, team development and a final jury. Phoenix and LAMÁQUINA bring teaching, design development and specialist fabrication expertise together.

Follow the learning journey ↗
Inside LAMÁQUINA · Barcelona

Architecture. Engineering.
Manufacturing.

Inside the studio.
From digital design to physical form.

LAMÁQUINA / STUDIO FILM
Existing LAMÁQUINA studio work. The masterclass prototypes will be developed by the participating teams.Film: LAMÁQUINA ↗
01 / PREPARE

Geometry to toolpath.

Translate a design into a production strategy.

02 / FABRICATE

Material, layer by layer.

Connect machine movement with physical form.

03 / REVIEW

Test the result.

Review scale, assembly and the material response.

An experiment in perception

A flat pattern.
A sense of depth.

Move your pointer or shift the pattern.
Overlapping lines create an optical illusion.
Then explore the surface and its modules.

Move your pointer to explore
Optical & geometric studies / illustrative only
02 / The programmeFive sessions. One continuous design journey.

From possibility
to prototype.

Learn online. Develop together.
Connect your decisions to physical production.

01Imagine & defineThu 21 January

Start with a façade question. Explore AI-assisted design directions, develop a clear intention and discuss what makes an idea worth testing.

Design brief / references / first explorations
02Translate into geometryTue 26 January

Move from visual exploration to a spatial proposal. Develop a geometric system and consider how individual modules create a coherent façade.

Digital model / modular strategy
03Design for makingThu 28 January

Explore material choices, scale, joints and fabrication constraints. Refine the design through specialist feedback from LAMÁQUINA.

Material reasoning / fabrication review
04Test & refineTue 02 February

Review the team proposal, resolve weak points and prepare the model and documentation for the agreed prototype workflow.

Revised geometry / prototype preparation
05Communicate & presentThu 04 February

Bring the design, making strategy and team contribution into a clear presentation. Prepare to explain your choices to the final jury.

Project board / presentation / process record
Final juryPresent. Discuss. Reflect.Friday 12 February 2027

Three hours per workshop. Detailed session content and software requirements will be issued with the participant guide. Jury time will be confirmed with Ramadan scheduling in mind.

Illustrative ribbed façade with sculptural openings and layered material detailAnimated concept artwork · not a completed workshop outcome
03 / The material outcome

Beyond
the screen.

A shared design challenge. Tangible evidence of what you have learned.

20 × 20cm

One study prototype for each of five teams.

≈ 3m

One full-scale prototype for the winning team, assembled from modules.

Fabrication takes place at LAMÁQUINA’s Barcelona workspace. Material, geometry, assembly and production sequencing are developed with the fabrication team.

04 / Your teaching collaborationDesign thinking meets manufacturing practice.
Aldo Sollazzo photographed in a robotics workspace
Aldo Sollazzo · Portrait from IAAC ↗
Masterclass with

Aldo
Sollazzo.

Founder & CEO, LAMÁQUINA

RoboticsComputational designAdvanced manufacturing

Connecting digital intelligence
with the physical world.

Aldo’s work brings together robotics, computer vision, computational design and material innovation. His practice connects the way we design with the systems that make production possible.

The programme is jointly developed and taught with Phoenix Global Education. Our academic team contributes to the learning experience, project development and participant support, alongside LAMÁQUINA’s specialist design and fabrication expertise.

05 / A considered learning experience

A studio.
A process.
A body of work.

Your guidebook connects the brief, exercises, resources and submission requirements. Team identifiers, project boards and a process record keep your work clear from first idea to final review.

  • Participant guide & preparation checklist
  • Session resources & guided exercises
  • Team project & submission templates
  • Design reflection & portfolio material
Concept of the From AI to Matter guidebook, clay-coloured workbook and façade study modelMaterial-pack concept · digital resources will be provided
The working toolsFrom geometry to a fabrication strategy

Bring the basics.
Build beyond them.

Basic knowledge of Rhino and Grasshopper is required.

We will use both tools to develop geometry and explore parametric design decisions alongside AI-assisted ideation.

Software access should be arranged before the programme. Final versions and any additional tools will be confirmed in the participant guide. Product logos identify the tools used.

06 / Before you joinThe practical details

Bring curiosity.
Build capability.

Who is the masterclass for?+

Architecture and design students, emerging designers and practitioners interested in connecting AI-assisted exploration with computational design and fabrication. Contact Phoenix to discuss whether the programme matches your experience.

Where will the teaching take place?+

All five workshops and the final jury take place online. Physical prototype production is carried out by LAMÁQUINA in Barcelona; participants do not need to travel there.

What do I need to prepare?+

Basic knowledge of both Rhino and Grasshopper is required. You should be comfortable navigating Rhino, working with simple curves and surfaces, and connecting components and sliders in Grasshopper. Bring a suitable computer, access to the software, reliable internet and time for team development between sessions. Final versions and any additional tools will be listed in the preparation guide.

Will sessions be recorded?+

Programme recordings are intended for registered participants during the agreed access period. Access is time-limited; recordings may not be redistributed.

What about the jury and certification?+

The final jury is planned for 12 February. This is a CPD-accredited masterclass, delivered through Phoenix Global Education, CPD Standards Office provider 23239. A CPD certificate will be issued to participants who meet the programme completion requirements. The jury line-up, time and detailed completion requirements will be shared before the programme.

From AI to Matter / Edition 01January — February 2027

One programme.
From idea
to outcome.

Your place in a collaborative design studio, with a clear route from digital exploration to physical prototyping.

Standard fee · per participantUS$1,000
Start your registration

Online payment will open here soon. Register your interest now; Phoenix will share the payment details separately.

Your programme includes

  1. 01
    15 hours of live teaching

    Five three-hour online workshops, jointly developed and taught by Phoenix and LAMÁQUINA.

  2. 02
    A collaborative façade project

    Develop a proposal with your team through design exercises, specialist feedback and preparation for fabrication.

  3. 03
    A physical team prototype

    One 20 × 20 cm study model for each of the five teams, fabricated at LAMÁQUINA in Barcelona.

  4. 04
    Final jury and design feedback

    Present your team's proposal at the one-hour online jury on 12 February 2027.

  5. 05
    A considered learning pack

    Participant guide, preparation checklist, session resources and project submission templates.

  6. 06
    Work to develop your portfolio

    A documented design process and team proposal, supported by recordings during the agreed access period.

  7. 07
    CPD certificate

    A certificate for this CPD-accredited masterclass, subject to meeting the programme completion requirements.

For the winning team

An approximately 3-metre full-scale prototype, assembled from modules and produced at LAMÁQUINA.

Prototype fabrication is a team outcome. Software access, any prototype shipping and travel arrangements will be confirmed separately.

07 / RegistrationYour next step

Start your
registration.

Tell us a little about yourself and what you would like to explore. Phoenix will review your request and contact you about the next steps.

21 January – 4 February 2027Online workshops · Jury on 12 FebruaryStandard fee: US$1,000

This form prepares an email to Phoenix. Please send it from your email app to complete your request. Your place is confirmed separately by the programme team.

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