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.
Education
University Entrance Preparatory Course
Colégio Nobel | Londrina, Brazil
Bachelor of Architecture and Urbanism (dropped)
UNEMAT | Barra do Bugres, Brazil
High School
CEI Anglo | Vilhena, Brazil
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.
On-the-job Training
California State University Long Beach | Long Beach, USA
- Gained hands-on experience in project management.
- Conducted construction site inspections.
- Gained BIM modeling skills.
- Completed Safety and Health Training.
Graphic Designer
Biomedical Science Institute - University of São Paulo | São Paulo, Brazil
- Created conceptual designs for scientific communications.
- Managed design project workflows.
- Organized and supported academic competitions.
Scholarships
Publications
Teaching Experience
IntCDC Master’s Thesis Grant 2021 Award Ceremony
IntCDC Status Seminar 2021 | Stuttgart, Germany
Pitch
Round Table Debater
FAU-USP - Online | São Paulo, Brazil
Computational Design: Strategies
UNIP - Online | Brazil
Talk
Models byNature 2.0
Atelier Marko Brajovic | São Paulo, Brazil
Workshop
The second edition of the Models byNature workshop expanded on the first with four Saturdays of parametric design with Grasshopper inspired by nature, covering form-finding experiments, computational modeling, and biomimetics at Atelier Marko Brajovic in São Paulo.
Models byNature 1.0
Atelier Marko Brajovic | São Paulo, Brazil
Workshop
This workshop sought to connect computational design practices with natural phenomena, addressing topics such as associative modeling, biomimetics and visual programming language.
Emotional Design and Technology
MOVELPAR | Arapongas, Brazil
Talk
A talk at MOVELPAR 2019, organized by SEBRAE, on how emotional design and technology intersect in contemporary furniture and product design.
Adaptive Grasshopper Workshop
UNEMAT | Barra do Bugres, Brazil
Workshop
In addition to learning the basics of Grasshopper for Rhinoceros, participants were able to decide the direction of the course by choosing which computational design strategy to explore. In this case, they chose Exoskeleton.
A Decade After UNEMAT
UNEMAT | Barra do Bugres, Brazil
UNEMAT was the first university where I studied Architecture. Ten years after the beginning of my studies there, I presented this talk about my whole trajectory, from my university transfer to the FAU-USP, my work at Atelier Marko Brajovic, and my recent career shift, focusing more specifically on Computational Design and programming.
Tensegrity Workshop
Aldeia Rizoma | Paraty, Brazil
Workshop
A team-building workshop where we collectively built a tensegrity structure, discovering how the balance of forces in the structure mirrored our own collaborative dynamics.
Architecture + Biomimetics + Algorithm
Istituto Europeo di Design | São Paulo, Brazil
Talk
Grasshopper & Kangaroo Workshop
PortoFabLab | São Paulo, Brazil
Workshop
The students learned how to work with springs systems in order to simulate a cloth behavior
Private Revit Lessons
Private Tutoring | São Paulo, Brazil
Course
Revit lessons from the basic principles to advanced techniques.
Form-Finding with Grasshopper
II Structured Shell Meeting | São Paulo, Brazil
Talk