Design-Tech Talk 6.0

Hamid Hassanzadeh is a distinguished architect, entrepreneur, researcher, and speaker. Having earned his degree in architectural engineering in 2012, Hamid has since contributed to various architectural projects across multiple regions around the globe. In early 2016, he founded the ParametricArchitecture platform, initially launching on Instagram. Today, ParametricArchitecture, often abbreviated as PA, stands as a globally renowned hub for parametric, computational design, and AI lovers, boasting over 20 million monthly interactions on the internet. Hamid endeavors to demystify the intricacies of the parametric, computational, and AI realms through compelling articles, interviews, workshops, podcasts, and conferences disseminated across various digital platforms. Furthermore, he’s the visionary behind PAACADEMY, an educational entity under the aegis of PA, dedicated to propagating the concepts of computational architecture and design. The PAACADEMY, as an educational platform, educates and engages with its audience, introducing them to advanced techniques and algorithms employed by architects, designers, and coders alike. He highlights exemplary projects executed using state-of-the-art design software, ensuring that his audience not only witnesses but also comprehends the depth and philosophy of these avant-garde design practices. Moreover, as the esteemed host of the 'PA Talks' interview series, he engages in enriching conversations with architects, orchestrates numerous workshops, conferences, and events, and has had the privilege of interviewing myriad globally acclaimed architects, delving into their methodologies and foresighted visions for the architectural landscape.

Olaf Olden is a sustainability technologist whose work explores the intersection between sustainability and parametric design. He completed his master’s degree at TU Delft in 2021, following his initial studies at the University of Applied Sciences in Arnhem. Driven by a longstanding goal to contribute to a more sustainable built environment, Olaf has shaped his career around this mission.He began as a sustainability consultant, focusing on the social and environmental performance of buildings, public spaces, and BREEAM certification processes. This experience led him to a similar role at MVRDV, where he further developed his expertise. A pivotal chapter in his professional journey was his time at OMRT, where he gained in-depth experience with parametric design, a central pillar of his work today. Currently, Olaf works as a Sustainability Technologist at UNS, where he develops practical tools that enable architects to embed sustainability into their design processes. He also shares his knowledge as a teacher at TU Delft and through his own company, MisterMetric. Alongside this, he runs a YouTube channel under the same name, aiming to make parametric design and sustainability concepts more accessible to a broader audience. Through all of these efforts, he hopes to contribute to the conversation about how technology can drive a more responsible future for architecture.

Nicolas Sterling is a structural engineer and architect, qualified and chartered. He is a graduate of the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers in Paris and the Paris La Villette School of Architecture. He founded STERLING PRESSER in 2018, a studio in architecture and engineering, based in Berlin. He was previously Associate Director of AKTII Adams Kara Taylor, managing a group delivering buildings and special structure. He joined ARUP AGU’s Advanced Geometry Unit in 2005, a team of specialists within ARUP led by Cecil Balmond, and was part of the ARUP Building Engineering Group in London until 2011.His design-oriented approach and interest in innovative forms and structures has enabled him to work on cutting-edge design projects with leading architectural and design firms such as Zaha Hadid, Shigeru Ban, Ron Arad and Anish Kapoor, and has been involved in a wide range of programmes such as sculptures, canopies, buildings and walkways in a design approach.Nicolas is passionate about emerging technologies and the process of creativity in design, and is motivated by the connection between architecture, design, and engineering, by experimentation, and cross-fertilization between disciplines. He is in a constant quest to answer questions of our time and has the opportunity to write a new, positive story about our sustainable future.Prior to 2005, Nicolas worked with Hugh Dutton in the HDA office in Paris on lightweight structures, long span walkways and facades, developing technical concepts and details as a key point in the architectural process.Nicolas regularly gives lectures and reviews in architecture and engineering schools. He has published several books on his work, and he is the author/coauthor of many articles. His projects have received international awards and have been published worldwide.

Elke Sterling-Presser is a licensed German Architect and Entrepreneur. Elke has been Director of STERLING PRESSER since 2018, co-founded in Berlin with engineer-architect Nicolas Sterling.She holds an advanced Master of Architecture degree from the SAC-Städelschule at the Staatliche Hochschule für Städelschule Bildene Künste, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Her academic journey was under the mentorship of esteemed professors such as Prof. Ben Van Berkel, Prof. Johan Bettum, Prof. Beatriz Colomina and Prof. Mark Wigley. She completed her initial architecture degree in Heidelberg, Germany, in 2001.With a rich academic background, Elke Sterling-Presser is also a respected educator. Since 2019, she has been imparting her knowledge at the University of Arts (UdK) in Berlin. Previously, between 2013 and 2015, she contributed to the academic environment at the University of Greenwich in London. Her professional experience includes significant stints at various architecture offices, notably Zaha Hadid Architects in London from 2006 to 2015.Elke Sterling-Presser's practice and research focus on the intersection of post-carbon architecture, circular design, and digital innovation.Emphasizing a fully integrated design approach, her philosophy revolves around collaborative workflows where diverse disciplines synergize to develop projects from conceptual inception. She believes that architects and designers can serve as catalysts for positive global transformations. She has published several books on her work and she is the author/coauthor of many articles. Her projects have received international awards and have been published worldwide.

Ladan Vojdanzadeh is an architect and educator with over a decade of experience in teaching transformable design systems, particularly scissor-like mechanisms. Her academic and professional work focuses on exploring the intersection of geometry, motion, and algorithmic logic in the field of architecture.Ladan has taught over 20 workshops, authored a book on transformable structures, and worked in architectural design and supervision on different projects.She currently teaches courses related to advanced structures and computational design, integrating Grasshopper into her methodical, step-by-step approach to algorithmic modeling.

Jacob Lehrer is exploring the future of sustainable architecture, utilizing emerging computational techniques and advanced manufacturing technologies. He began his academic career at Wentworth Institute of Technology, earning a Bachelor of Science in Architecture with a concentration in Emerging Technologies. Using Rhino and Grasshopper, he developed systems to create facades, pavilions, and sculptures utilizing Kuka Robotics systems and Wasp robotic clay printing. With a commitment to sustainable design, Lehrer holds three LEED AP accreditations (BD+C, O+M, ND) and believes computation is key to tailoring projects to their specific locations, facilitating a more sustainable development process. His work blends aesthetics and environmental responsibility with a core focus on the natural world. Building on this unique experience, Jacob will attend SCI_Arc starting in August 2025. His distinctive experience with advanced Grasshopper applications informs his approach to teaching the fundamentals of this software. Jacob previously taught the 'Environment-Reactive Computation (with Ladybug)' workshop and the Grasshopper Essential Plugins for Beginners 101 series at PAACADEMY.