Ikon tower

RESEARCH BACKGROUND Ikon is a study in the use of computation in relation to aesthetics, specifically in architecture and design. The project by Tom Kovac provides an investigation into the terms, concepts, and processes of algorithmic architecture and provides a theoretical framework for its implementation in design. It provides research into the technical, theoretical and design means to develop complex organisational forms of varying scales, allowing experimentation with design problems. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION Ikon researches new possibilities in three main areas: digital representation; geometrical investigations into fabrication and construction using hybrid materials; and processes that implement forms that push spatial composition to their limits. From topological geometry to folded surfaces Kovac has explored formal properties as sources of ordering systems, attempting to readdress formal issues using new techniques and methods. Variability and customisation are an essential part of the program. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE The pedagogical value of this project is three-fold. Ikon's significance lies in its advance of theoretical frameworks, its expansion of innovative technical skills and as a source for design inspiration. It explores, discusses and critically evaluates the conceptual approach of new forms and spatial production techniques. Simultaneously, it uses advanced technologies to experiment with design and model construction. While its aesthetic value is a source of inspiration, its physical implementation challenges the very nature of what architecture could be.