A Decade After UNEMAT

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. The talk, titled “Architecture + Biomimetics + Algorithm”, was structured in three parts.

Part 1: Academic Trajectory

The first part covered the academic journey after leaving UNEMAT, beginning with the transfer to FAU-USP in Sao Paulo. There, the experience ranged from the iconic building by Vilanova Artigas and its famous leaks, to the LAME laboratory, inspiring professors, and a strong social focus in architecture, though the technology area remained limited.

Through the Science Without Borders program, I then spent time at Auburn University in Alabama, where the Rural Studio program offered hands-on experience building projects for underserved communities, combining rigorous fieldwork with real-world impact. This was followed by an internship at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), where the workflow was dynamic, technical requirements were rigorous, and adjustments happened in near real-time. Learning English fluently proved to be a game changer and a long-term investment.

Part 2: Atelier Marko Brajovic

The second part presented the work at Atelier Marko Brajovic, an architecture office in Sao Paulo deeply rooted in biomimetics. Projects showcased included the Ekoa Park (with executive drawings, sections, and sun studies), the Docol stand at Exporevestir, the Parada Coca-Cola pavilion, tensegrity structures, and the Nike Air Max installation.

Part 3: Research and Grasshopper

The final part shifted to independent research and computational design explorations using Grasshopper. It demonstrated a wide range of algorithmic techniques: Attractor, Circle Packing, Delaunay, Differential Growth, Dual Mesh, Exoskeleton, Fractal, Gradient Descent, Hexagon, Inflatable, L-system, Metaball, Minimal Path Networks, Multi-Agent Interactions, Origami, Phyllotaxis, Relaxation, Reciprocal, Relative Neighborhood, Substrate, Tensegrity, Twisted Tower, Voronoi, Zonohedral Dome, Waffle, and environmental analysis with Honeybee and Ladybug.