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18-12-2014
The Bartlett achieves highest results in REF 2014 (Research Excellence Framework), UK.
The Bartlett has 46% of its REF 2014 research profile rated as 4* world-leading in quality -- significantly up from a combined average of 30% across the two RAE 2008 submissions -- and another 35% of its research profile is recognised as 3* internationally excellent. More than 80% of the Bartlett's profile is now in the two highest categories. It also means that Bartlett staff produced the largest quantity of 4* world-leading research outputs (156 items) of any university submitting to the same REF sub-panel. Altogether, The Bartlett has a very strong grade point average of 3.25, and also a very high number of 4* and 3* research, which when multiplied by the unparalleled number of our research staff, places it clearly as the top-ranking institution for the subject.
The Bartlett’s results in the REF 2014 exercise are among the very best within UCL, which was ranked 1st overall above both Oxford and Cambridge, for its research strength, returning a total of 2,750 scholars (c. 2,566 FTE) as 92% of the eligible staff in the university. UCL’s highly inclusive approach, as exemplified by The Bartlett, reflects its status as a genuinely research-intensive university where a supportive environment enables staff to live up to their potential as world-class researchers.
Source: Bartlett Faculty of Built Environment
December 2014
Author: Marcos Cruz
Introduction: Martin Cobas
Publicsher: Facultad de Arquitectura, Universidad de la República (Colección conferencias)ISBN: 978-9974-0-1161-8
12-12-2014
Unit 15 Crits at the Bartlett School of Architecture, London UK.
Critics: Kristina Schenigger, Stefan Rutizinger, Maren Klasing, Jeffrey Lee, David Edwards, Marcos Cruz
11-12-2014
BiotA Juries at the Bartlett School of Architecture, London UK.
Critics: Frederic Migayrou, Natsai Chiesa Audrey, Gyungju Chyon, John Sadar, Stephen Gage, Claudia Pasquero, Andrew Porter, Ruairi Glynn, , Richard Beckett, Javier Ruiz, Marcos Cruz
28-10-2014
Introduction of Thesis cluster for MAA 02, at Institute of Advance Architecture of Catalonia / IaaC, Barcelona Spain.
Introductions: Areti Markpoulou, Manuel Gausa
Various cluster presentations: Vicente Guallart, Lluis Viu & Jordi Pages, Marcos Cruz, amongst others
23-09-2014
Biotechnology and Architeture Lab
Tutors of rC7: Marcos Cruz, Richard Beckett, Javier Ruiz
BiotA Lab is part of an emerging network of international experts who develop bio-digital prototypes based on the novel use of advanced biotechnologies. Students plan and grow a series of systems that explore a new ecological model for architecture that respond to specific climates based upon the relationship between environmental conditions and the interfacial properties of materials with mircro-organisms. In opposition to the traditional complexities and highly costly ‘green architecture’, the use of such designed systems promote a new symbiosis between buildings and nature that is more computationally sophisticated, and far less costly for buildings in high-dense cities.
All work is produced between the studio and the laboratory where the application of these systems is designed using advanced computation through modelling and simulation. Organisms are grown and materials tested under real laboratory conditions providing feedback for rigorous iteration and data for advanced fabrication of prototypes.
Opportunities:
BiotA Lab students and research affiliates have a unique set of skills that bridge innovative computational design, fabrication and laboratory protocols. Following their students at the Bartlett they collaborate in wide range of architectural practices and laboratories, with a particular focus on innovative bio-digital design. The cross-collaborative nature of this work allows BiotA students to work individually but also as part of greater teams that are exploring new environmental design agendas that respond to the increasing challenges in our cities.
23-09-2014
Incredible India - Liminal Geometries, Radical Materiality, Extreme Realities, Awesome Beauty
Tutors: Marcos Cruz, Marjan Colletti, Richard Beckett
Tutors: Marcos Cruz, Marjan Colletti, Richard Beckett
Additionally, increasingly extreme weather conditions are affecting India’s climate, which is leading to regular droughts and floods on unprecedented scale. In this context, Unit 20 will explore notions of the extreme, a phenomenon implicit to our times. Not only India, but also the world by and large is becoming more and more extreme and overcrowded, leading to unparalleled contrasts, scales and complexity, especially in what concerns our beliefs, habits and technological capabilities. The unit is interested in exploring the extreme geometric (form), material (perception), social (reality) and aesthetic (beauty) dimensions of architecture.
Liminal
- Relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process
- Occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold
Extreme
- Maximum, greatest, ultimate, supreme, paramount, acute, major, enormous, severe, exceptional
- Drastic, serious, forceful, desperate, dire, far-reaching, momentous, consequential, substantial
- Extremist, immoderate, exaggerated, intemperate, outrageous, unreasonable
- Fanatical, revolutionary, rebellious, subversive, militant, combative, dangerous, risky
- Utmost, furthest, highest, most distant, final, last, terminal, remotest
Radical
- Total, entire, absolute, comprehensive, exhaustive, complete, far-reaching, extensive
- Fundamental, basic, quintessential, thorough, serious, rigorous, profound, deep-seated, profound
- Severe, drastic, draconian, stringent, violent
- Revolutionary, progressive, reforming, revisionist, fanatical, militant
Awesome
- Breathtaking, amazing, stunning, stupendous, staggering, extraordinary, incredible, magnificent
- Unbelievable, phenomenal, awe-inspiring, sublime, miraculous, wonderful, spectacular
- Formidable, imposing, impressive, mind-boggling, mind-blowing, out of this world
06-09-2014
Keynote lecture at the What's the Matter? Materiality and Materialism at the Age of Computation conference, ENHSA/COAC/ETSAV, Barcelona Spain.
Organisers: Maria Voyatzaki and Constantin Spiridonidis
Keynote speakers: Manuel de Landa, Mario Carpo, Alisa Andrasek, Philippe Morel, Bob Sheil, Mark Burry, Carmen Andriani, Lars Spuybroek, Kas Osterhuis, Luciana Parisi, Justin Dirrenberger, Marcos Cruz
Debate: Marta Male-Alemany, Mark Burry and Marcos Cruz
Organisers: Maria Voyatzaki and Constantin Spiridonidis
Keynote speakers: Manuel de Landa, Mario Carpo, Alisa Andrasek, Philippe Morel, Bob Sheil, Mark Burry, Carmen Andriani, Lars Spuybroek, Kas Osterhuis, Luciana Parisi, Justin Dirrenberger, Marcos Cruz
Debate: Marta Male-Alemany, Mark Burry and Marcos Cruz
August 2014
Article 'Architectural Education Today - The School of Tomorrow' published in conference proceedings 16th Meeting of Heads of European Schools of Architecture: Constantin Spiridonidis, Maria Voyatzaki (eds). Dealing with Change - For a dynamic, responsive, adaptive and engaged architectural education", ENHSA Thessaloniki 2014
July 2014
Content: Pedro Cabrita Reis, Escena Artística Peruana, Frenando Velásquez, Marcos Cruz, Tomás Alonso, Rodríguez-Méndez, Alejandro de la Sota, Est Art Fair
02-07-2014
Location: Renaissance Hotel
Organisation: David Cobb / Bartlett Faculty of Built Environment
Speakers: David Cobb - UCL Bartlett Director of Business Development; Mr Scott Wightman - HM Ambassador to Korea; Professor Lee Kyung Hoi - Chairman, Korea Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Architecture(KRIEA) and Emeritus Professor Yonsai university; Mr Martin Fryer - Country Director, British Council Korea; Dr Ben Croxford - Director, UCL Centre for Sustainable Buildings; Dr Marcos Cruz - Former Director of The Bartlett School of Architecture; Dr Kyung Wook Seo - UCL Alumnus and Assistant Professor, Architectural Department Kyonggi University
Book launch of The Inhabitable Flesh of Architecture
02-07-2014
27-06-2014
Editors: Marjan Colletti, Richard Beckett and Marcos Cruz
Design/Assistant Editor: Anahita Chouhan
Publicsher: ListLAB Trento, Italy
ISBN: 9788898774371
Opening of Unit 20 exhibition at the Bartlett Summer Show 2014, Slade School of Art / University College London, UK.
Photo Credit: Richard Beckett
Opening of the Bartlett Summer Show 2014 at the Slade School of Art / University College London, UK.
Guest Opener: Michael Webb
Marcos Cruz Lecture 3 (26-06-2014): GREENER BUILDINGS - Future directions
更綠建築 - 未來方向
ISBN: 9788898774371
27-06-2014
27-06-2014
Guest Opener: Michael Webb
23-06-2014 - 27-06-2014
Low-Carbon City consultancy for the Environmental Protection Administration, Taipei Taiwan.
Organisation: EPA Taiwan / Environmental Science Technology Consultnats Corporation ESTCC TaiwanLecturers: Peter Bishop; Oliver WIlton; Marcos Cruz
Marcos Cruz Lecture 1 (24-06-2014): Social Sustainability - Typologies to match contemporary lifestyles
社會永續性 - 符合當代生活方式的類型學
Marcos Cruz Lecture 2 (24-06-2014): Sustainable Placemaking - Methods to reduce energy demands
永續的地方營造 - 減少能源需求的方法
Organisation: EPA Taiwan / Environmental Science Technology Consultnats Corporation ESTCC TaiwanLecturers: Peter Bishop; Oliver WIlton; Marcos Cruz
Marcos Cruz Lecture 1 (24-06-2014): Social Sustainability - Typologies to match contemporary lifestyles
社會永續性 - 符合當代生活方式的類型學
Marcos Cruz Lecture 2 (24-06-2014): Sustainable Placemaking - Methods to reduce energy demands
永續的地方營造 - 減少能源需求的方法
更綠建築 - 未來方向
Marcos Cruz Lecture 4 (26-06-2014): 2 Case studies - 兩個案例研究
Host: Jianmin Meng
Interview by Juan Francisco Cañada, London UK.
06-06-2014
SYN.DE.BIO SYMPOSIUM 01 and website launch, Bartlett School of Architecture UCL, London UK.
The symposium focused on work that is emerging at the crossroads of design, biology and engineering. 12 international speakers focused on built projects, processes and materials that employ innovative fabrication techniques and design methods to explore and apply biological material in architecture. Advances in the field of synthetic biology, biotechnology and material sciences, as well as new modes of production and simulation are leading towards an increasing multidisciplinary approach to design. The emergence of novel synthetic ecologies and a new sense of materiality are giving us alternative answers to our future built environment.
The symposium could be followed live on http://www.ucl.ac.uk/live and on twitter #syndebio
Location: Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL - REH, 21 Capper Street London WC1E 2QG
Speakers: Claudia Pasquero (EcoLogicStudio/Bartlett UCL); Sandra Manso Blanco (UPC Barcelona/Uni Gent/LabMET); Steve Pike (Arcolony/Acanthus LW); Marin Sawa (Imperial College); Marco Lizzul (UCL Algae/Varicon Aqua Solutions); Henk Jonkers (CiTEG Microlab/TU Delft); Gregory Tudryn (Evocative); Richard Beckett (Arch-T/Bartlett UCL) / Marcos Cruz (marcosandmarjan/Bartlett UCL); Ginger Dosier (BioMason/American University of Sharjah); Jan Wurm (Arup Berlin); Thom Faulders (Thom Faudlers Studio/CCA San Francisco); Bill Watts (Max Fordham)
Interview by Luz Paz Agras for DARDO magazine, London UK.
18-06-2014
Lecture 'Paradigms of Contemporary Architecture', an event with Daniel Tai, at Shenzhen General Institute of Architectural Design and Research - SADI, Shenzhen P R China.
13-06-2014
06-06-2014
SYN.DE.BIO SYMPOSIUM 01 and website launch, Bartlett School of Architecture UCL, London UK.
The symposium focused on work that is emerging at the crossroads of design, biology and engineering. 12 international speakers focused on built projects, processes and materials that employ innovative fabrication techniques and design methods to explore and apply biological material in architecture. Advances in the field of synthetic biology, biotechnology and material sciences, as well as new modes of production and simulation are leading towards an increasing multidisciplinary approach to design. The emergence of novel synthetic ecologies and a new sense of materiality are giving us alternative answers to our future built environment.
The symposium could be followed live on http://www.ucl.ac.uk/live and on twitter #syndebio
Speakers: Claudia Pasquero (EcoLogicStudio/Bartlett UCL); Sandra Manso Blanco (UPC Barcelona/Uni Gent/LabMET); Steve Pike (Arcolony/Acanthus LW); Marin Sawa (Imperial College); Marco Lizzul (UCL Algae/Varicon Aqua Solutions); Henk Jonkers (CiTEG Microlab/TU Delft); Gregory Tudryn (Evocative); Richard Beckett (Arch-T/Bartlett UCL) / Marcos Cruz (marcosandmarjan/Bartlett UCL); Ginger Dosier (BioMason/American University of Sharjah); Jan Wurm (Arup Berlin); Thom Faulders (Thom Faudlers Studio/CCA San Francisco); Bill Watts (Max Fordham)
09-05-2014
Unit 20 Final Crits, Bartlett School of Architecture, London UK.
Critics: Andy Bow, Christine Hawley, Christos Passas, Claudia Pasquero, Rob Stuart-Smith, Robert Aish, Marjan Colletti, Richard Beckett, Marcos Cruz
06-05-2014
30-04-2014
Talk at 'Evolving Formations' event, as part of the Design by Mother Nature - Biomimetic Products exhibition, at Roca Gallery, London UK.
Introduction/organisation: Chris Lefteri
Speakers: Michael Pawlyn, Chris Johnson, Eleanor Morgan, Marcos Cruz
Speakers: Michael Pawlyn, Chris Johnson, Eleanor Morgan, Marcos Cruz
24-04-2014
31-03-2014 - 08-04-2014
On this trip I was extremely lucky that very generous friends gave me access to extraordinary buildings and made me discover the work of some great architects (rather unknown outside Latin American).
Thanks to Leonardo Lattavo I went up the Sugar Loaf (I can once more confirm that Rio is the most exuberant and beautiful city on earth) and discovered Casa Villino Silveira by Antonio Virzi – a whimsical and superb piece of Art Nouveaux.
In Santiago, Margarita Greene and Horacio Torrent made it possible to visit the United Nations / CEPAL building by Emilio Duhart. What a fantastic piece of modernism! Also Arnaldo Ruiz Ballac and Andrea Santa Cruz took me up the mountain to visit the Benedictino monastery by Gabriel Guarda and Martín Correa.
My friend Martin Schmidt drove me to the amazing city of Valparaiso where we also had lunch with the community of the OPEN CITY. There we were toured by Mauricio Puentes through almost all the buildings of this incredible place. (By the way, we had coffee at the house of Quena Aguirre, an extraordinary person who lives there for over 35 years!). This visit was one of the most enlightening moments of my whole trip.
In Argentina, my dearest friend Alejandro Romanutti introduced me to Cordoba, which was not only a great discovery as a city but was also amazing due to the presence of the work of Miguel Angel Roca and, most of all, Togo Diaz – the guru master of ‘baroque’ brick work. Besides their amazing oeuvre, Cordoba has endless other good buildings, including the Escuela Superior de Comercio Manuel Belgrano (arqs. Bidinost, Chute, Gassó, Meyer y Lapacó) and the more contemporary Archivo Provincial de Cordoba by Alejandro Cohen y Cristian Nanzer, amongst many others.
Daniela Freiberg and Martin Cobas Sosa hosted me in Montevideu – a beautiful and exquisite city full of beautiful art deco as well as some very powerful modernist buildings. They generously took me to Atlantida to visit the Church of Eladio Dieste, and on the way back the Soca chapel by Antonio Bonet - another amazing surprise. I was further introduced to the work of Julio Vilamajo’ and his exquisite museum house.
http://www.farq.edu.uy/patio/novedades/arq-marcos-cruz.html
08-04-2014
07-04-2014
Photo credit: Universidad de la Republica, Montevideu Uruguay
04-04-2014
04-04-2014
http://www.cbarq.com.ar/2014/04/bio-logica-la-rectora-del-siglo-21/
03-04-2014
03-04-2014
03-04-2014
http://www.udla.cl/1644/experto-internacional-inauguro-el-ano-academico-de-la-facultad-de-arquitectura-diseno-y-construccion
01-04-2014
Commentator/Moderator: Pedro Alonso
http://arquitectura.uc.cl/Agenda/conferencia-the-inhabitable-flesh-of-architecture-marcos-cruz-01-de-abril-18-30-hrs-salon-sergio-larrain-g-m.html
31-03-2014
31-03-2014
Following the 9th ARCHILAB Naturalising Architecture exhibition, the FRAC has officially integrated marcosandmarjan’s Algae-Cellunoi into their permanent collection, making it available for future exhibitions and international loans.
Design: marcosandmarjan with Guan Lee and Richard Beckett
Fabrication: Grymsdyke Farm; DMC London
Algae Technology: Marin Sawa with Nixon Group and Hellgardt Group (Imperial College); Richard Beckett (UCL)
Collaboration: Olivia Pearson: Emu Masuyama; Jessie Lee; Keith McDonald; Jonas Brazys; Cullum Perry
Sponsors: Bartlett School of Architecture; Grymsdyke Farm; Innsbruck University
28-02-2014
Cross Crits Unit 20 and Unit 15, Bartlett School of Architecture, London UK.
Critics: Kristina Schinegger, Maren Klasing, Marjan Colletti, Marcos Cruz
27-02-2014
Chair of presentations and panel discussion Designing with Nature: Desiging with Parameters - What's next? at the Architecture Foundation, London UK.
Location: Unicorn Theatre
Chair: Marcos Cruz
Speakers/Pannelist: Michael Pawlyn (Exploration); Rupert Soar (Freeform Construction Ltd / Nottingham Trent University); Nerea Calvillo (C+ Arquitectos); Patrick Schumacher (Zaha Hadid Architects / AADRL)
http://vimeo.com/89862652
http://www.architecturefoundation.org.uk/programme/2014/exploration-architecture-designing-with-nature/designing-with-parameters-whats-next
Introduction by Marcos Cruz
Presentation by Michael Pawlyn
Presentation by Rupert Soar
Presentation by Nerea Calvillo
Presentation by Patrick Schumacher
26-02-2014
26-02-2014
14-02-2014
06-02-2014
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| (from left to right) Tom Mole, Meredith Wilson, Dgahan Cam, Michelle Lukins, Julia Backhaus, Stoll Michael, Isaie Bloch, Luke Pearson, Kevin Jones and Laura Allen. |
(from left to right) Michelle Bush, Emer Girling, Sara Shafiei, Adrian Forty, Oliver Wilton, Tim Barwell.
30-01-2014
09-01-2014 - 11-01-2014
Jury member of the Mostra d'Arquitectura Catalana, Barcelona, Spain.
(Prizes to be announced on the 20.01.2014)
(Prizes to be announced on the 20.01.2014)
Jury members: Francis Rambert; Rosa Rull; Jaume Valor; Vicente Guallart; Marcos Cruz
07-01-2014
Farewell email to all staff:
I am writing to you for the last time as the Director of the Bartlett School of Architecture. As you know already, I have decided to step down from my current duties as I felt that it was time to embrace new challenges in my design and research career, not least also my family. Leading the school for the last four years has been an extraordinary journey. I have enjoyed my time immensely as Director and I hope that my contributions have helped to move the school forward.
Four years ago I inherited a school which was the number one in the UK, and my aim and major challenge was to maintain this position and to reinforce it by strengthening our national and international status. Our accomplishments since have been numerous and our success is best symbolised by our achievements at last year’s RIBA Awards where the Bartlett gained an unprecedented six awards out of overall eight prize categories. I congratulate all those awarded and I feel hugely proud of the Bartlett’s outstanding performance.
Our success owes a great deal to the Dean, Alan Penn, who has advised and supported me unconditionally throughout these years. I am very thankful to him. He has been a fantastic Dean who has fostered an increased sense of cohesion in the Faculty of the Built Environment. I am proud that it was in my time that we appointed Frédéric Migayrou, who I supported in achieving new key goals for the school. His contributions as a Chair have been immensely important for us. I have relished my teamwork with him and our shared vision to strengthen our established and well-known programmes, while putting the school on a new international map in innovative design research.
Reflecting our steady growth in the last years, we made several strategic decisions that are worth noting. We made very important appointments, including 12 new Academics, along with over 100 new appointments in teaching, admin and workshops, altogether refreshing and expanding the diversity of our staff. Several new courses were created: the stand-alone BSc AIS, several short courses, including the Summer Foundation and Springboard, as well as B-Pro, which Frederic created as the umbrella structure of the newly relaunched MArch GAD and UD. We completely rethought our communications strategy, including a much improved catalogue and well-disseminated lecture series, a new social media presence for the school, and created a new archive project which is just beginning to become active.
An important achievement was to intensify our research culture, which is now larger, more diverse and prolific than ever before. The REF submission this year is witness to a huge collective effort which I supported by redirecting more financial resources into this vital part of our activities. In parallel we worked on reinforcing our reputation as academic leaders in Design, as well as consolidating our already vibrant History and Theory culture. My personal ambition was to invigorate our building culture and we therefore promoted a steady increase of well-established practitioners who are now teaching here. We also massively improved Technology and Computation, two fields in which we are now leaders.
To support all these changes we carried out an administrative review that made our operational structure more able to cope with current demands. I also reviewed all staff through appraisals, reviewed the teaching load for design tutors, including our field trip policy, and supported over 20 staff with their career promotions. Essential for me was also to give students in our school more attention and a voice. We made the Staff-Student committee a more participatory event, gave students the chance to organise lectures and a publication (in progress) and set-up a new student society.
An important part of my duties was to lead and organise the school’s response to the challenges of an Internal Quality Review (2010); a full RIBA visit as well as an interim visit (2011/13); and to gain ARB prescription (2012) for our Part 1, 2 and 3 programmes. These visits and submissions were completed with success and have been highly commended by our visitors.
None of this would have been feasible without the extraordinary commitment and help of my colleagues. I have an increased respect and admiration for all those who contribute so much to the school, and it humbles me to see how much effort and time many put into making the Bartlett an ongoing success. I learned that directing the School of Architecture implies a fine balance between a proactive leadership and a delegation of duties to others who have initiatives and need the space to act. Most of all, I am aware that the Bartlett is an ongoing collaborative endeavour. My intention here has been mainly to guide and support people and help the school be a more collegiate place for all. I will definitely miss those who I planned many projects with; those who I relied on to help me confront the most difficult decisions; and those who came to chitchat every day about the school.
Finally, I leave my job with a sense of achievement as I am handing over the school as the best in the UK and one of the key players internationally. I obviously also recognise there are lots of new challenges ahead, not least with the move into a new building in July 2014, which we managed to prepare during the last few years. I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Bob Sheil for becoming the new Director of the School. He is starting his role at the beginning of this term, while I am still around until the end of January for a hand-over period. I am delighted for Bob and the school, and I wish him and Frederic all the best in keeping the momentum up over the coming years. I feel that it is not only my own duty, but that of us all to support them both to get us through the next round of challenges.
It has been an enormous privilege to work with you all.
Best wishes,
Marcos
