Daniel Nunes Locatelli
PhD Candidate at ETH Zurich
"Architecture is inherently transdisciplinary. Its future lies in the use of computational co-design with vernacular materials to create circular construction systems."
Summary
Doctoral researcher at Gramazio Kohler Research, ETH Zurich, investigating computational design-to-fabrication for timber plate building systems and how AI can support the design process. Background as a software engineer and computational design researcher specializing in timber construction, bridging design and engineering through C#, Python and web technologies. M.Sc. from ITECH (University of Stuttgart) with a focus on multi-scalar robotic systems for engineered timber. Trilingual professional (English, German, and Portuguese) dedicated to solving complex structural problems through scalable software and data-driven fabrication.
Skills
| Programming | HTML, CSS, TypeScript, Python, C# |
|---|---|
| Frameworks | Astro, Tailwind, React, TanStack Start, Flask |
| Databases | PostgreSQL, MongoDB |
| Design Tools | Rhino, Grasshopper, Revit, Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud |
| Specialization | Web Development, Computational Design, Digital Fabrication, UI/UX Design |
| Languages | English (Fluent), German (B1), Portuguese (Native) |
Professional Experience
PhD Candidate
Gramazio Kohler Research, ETH Zurich | Zurich, Switzerland
- Computational design-to-fabrication for timber plate building systems.
- Part of the CEDD project, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
- Exploring how AI (large language models and agents) can support the design process, from early design exploration to fabrication-ready data.
Research Associate
Munich University of Applied Sciences | Munich, Germany
- Research associate on the DOKwood project: a web platform for documenting multilayer timber buildups, funded by ZIM and Innosuisse.
- Revit plugin (C#/.NET) importing DOKwood buildups into Revit as System Families.
- Development of a bSDD (building Smart Data Dictionary) to consolidate a semantic data model for DOKwood.
- Research on standards, databases, CAD and BIM tools with focus on timber technology. Foundations to develop the app DOKwood.
AEC Software Engineer
BuildSystems GmbH | Munich, Germany
Previously the startup Urban Scale Timber
- Development of a Funding Calculator for new constructions and renovations in Germany. Built with the Angular framework and PostgreSQL (Supabase).
- Development of BuildSystems’ website using Astro framework, leveraging Notion API to use Notion as a content management system (CMS).
AEC Software Engineer
Urban Scale Timber, Flügge Funding | Munich, Germany
The startup is now BuildSystems GmbH
- Development of a Grasshopper plugin (C#/.NET) and a semantic data model for urban analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of timber buildings (LCA).
- UI/UX prototype for the web app Circular Component Creator in Figma.
- Data visualization from Grasshopper to Power BI for decision-making.
- Development of Grasshopper workflows: urban analysis tools and timber component configurator with EPD data.
Computational Designer
ArtEngineering GmbH | Schorndorf, Germany
- Conducted algorithmic modeling and finite element analysis of complex spatial structures and artworks.
- Developed design-to-production automated workflows.
- Aiding on structural analysis of complex spatial structures.
- Preparing meticulous technical documentation.
- Creating precise engineering drawings and production plans.
Computational Designer
Alfred Rein Ingenieure GmbH | Stuttgart, Germany
- Received honorable mention in the competition ‘Witterungsschutz Römermauer’ from the city of Wiesbaden.
- Specialized in computational form finding of tensile structures.
- Simulated the deployment of an inflatable membrane structure.
- Development of an automatized cutting pattern workflow for membranes.
Research Assistant
ICD/ITKE University of Stuttgart | Stuttgart, Germany
- Conducted natural fiber structural tests with Marta Gil Pérez.
- Carbon fiber winding research with Christoph Schlopschnat.
- Computational design of a self-curving timber tower with Dylan Wood.
- Assisted the ICD website migration with Tobias Schwinn.
Computational Designer
Atelier Marko Brajovic | São Paulo, Brazil
Intern until December 2016
- Executed CAD, BIM, and computational modeling for architectural projects.
- Managed project communications and supplier relationships.
- Developed conceptual designs and high-quality renderings.
- Led prototyping and digital fabrication initiatives.