Rhino User Meeting 2025 – Speaker List

Politecnico di Milano

Ahmed Elmaraghy is a researcher at Politecnico di Milano and INDEXLAB, where he explores the intersections of computational design, AI, and robotic construction. His work focuses on agentic AI systems for generative design, including tools that translate prompts into Grasshopper components and fabrication workflows. He is currently developing and fine-tuning domain-specific LLMs for construction-aware generative applications. He supervises master's projects on dry joint parametrization and robotic assembly in timber. He holds degrees from ETH Zurich and Politecnico di Milano, and his research on reinforcement learning for autonomous design and construction was featured in CAAD Futures, alongside publications on BIM and Lean Construction methodologies.

ETH Zürich

Aleksandra Anna (Ania) Apolinarska works at the intersection of computational design and data science, exploring the applications of machine learning to enhance the design process in architecture and engineering, with particular focus on forward and inverse models. She has co-developed AIXD, an open-source toolkit for AI-eXtended Design and its Grasshopper Plugin ARA.
Ania is currently a senior scientist at ETH Zürich at the Swiss Data Science Center, as well as at Gramazio Kohler Research and Design++ Center for Augmented Computational Design in Architecture, Engineering and Construction.

IAAC - Advanced Architecture Barcelona

Alexandre Dubor is an architect researcher currently leading the Robotics Lab at IAAC.  Together with IAAC staff, students and industrial partners, he is investigating how new advances in material, digital fabrication and computational design could lead to a more sustainable construction ecosystem. The research currently focuses on 3D Printing architecture with sustainable material (such as earth), Robotic Manufacturing with recycled materials (such as wood waste) and robotic interaction in construction (such as human-machine craft). Their work has been rewarded, among others, by the European Commission (New European Bauhaus Champion), Archdaily (Building of the year), Digital Future (Young Research Award) and ICON 3D (1st Prize Affordable Housing Competition).

DDF/KIT

Erik Zanetti is a researcher at the Professorship of Digital Design and Fabrication (DDF) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany. His research focuses on circular building systems and sustainable construction materials. He leverages digital techniques to develop innovative material compositions and building strategies that address the challenges of integrating bio-based, waste, and earth-based resources. His research is based on full-scale experimental investigations that aim to explore the potential for future scalability in construction practices.

BFH Berner Fachhochschule

Joaquim Escoda Llorens is an architect and structural consultant specializing in structural analysis, digital fabrication and computational design, with a focus on wood He holds a Master’s degree in Architecture (MArch) from ETSAV UPC and a Master of Science (MSc) in Complex Timber Structures from BFH. After six years at BBG, a structural consultancy firm in Barcelona, he joined the Institute for Digital Construction and Timber Industry (IDBH) at BFH. Joaquim combines professional practice with teaching in the Structures Department at ETSAB UPC and in the MPDA Master's program at BarcelonaTech.

3XN

Kenn Clausen is an Associate and Head of Digital Practice at 3XN architects. He is an architect and parametric designer and is leading the development of design technologies across all departments. He believes and a holistic approach where design and technology are equally important to advance and inform the architectural process and building industry. Kenn’s expertise in design- and geometry-thinking allows him to navigate complex challenges and generate informed design decisions across all scales. Notably, his work includes the design and development of form, façade, and parametric models for projects like the Olympic House in Lausanne, The New Sydney Fish Marked in Sydney, and the SAP Garden Arena in Munich.

VUILD Inc.

Koki Akiyoshi is an architect and the founder and CEO of VUILD Inc., established in 2017 with the mission to democratize architecture. Describing himself as a “meta-architect,” he pioneers a decentralized creative network that empowers individuals across Japan to design and fabricate their own furniture and buildings. By bridging forest resources with digital fabrication technologies, his work spans from product design to community-scale revitalization. His contributions have earned numerous accolades, including the Under 35 Architects Exhibition Gold Medal (2019), Good Design Gold Award (2020), Archi-Neering Design Award Grand Prize (2021 and 2023), Architecture Awards for Everyone Grand Prize (2024), and the iF Design Gold Award (2025). Akiyoshi is also the author of Meta-Architect: Architecture for the Next Generation, published by Speelplaats Press in 2022.

SINTEF Digital

Konstantinos Gavriil is a Research Scientist in the Geometry group of SINTEF Digital. His research focuses on applied geometry, geometry processing, and computational design, with applications in architecture and digital fabrication.
Konstantinos received his PhD in Technical Mathematics from TU Wien in 2020 under the supervision of Prof. Helmut Pottmann, where he developed interactive computational methods for geometry-driven and material-aware architectural design. Since 2024, he leads the EIC-funded project STACK—a collaboration between SINTEF, DTU, and Zaha Hadid Architects—exploring innovative geometry-driven design, optimization, and fabrication methods for dual-configuration stackable freeform structures.

Bollinger+Grohmann

Ljuba Tascheva has been working at the interface between architecture and structural design as computational designer at Bollinger+Grohmann in Frankfurt since November 2011. Before joining Bollinger+Grohmann, she completed her diploma degree in Architecture with focus on experimental and digital design and construction and Master's degree in Design Research at the University of Kassel. Ljuba leads the Design Technology department for Germany and she is part of the core team developing and implementing the Digitalisation Strategy at Bollinger+Grohmann.

ETH Zürich

To be announced

Foster+Partners

Marios is a Partner at the Applied R+D team at Foster+Partners, pushing the boundaries of applied computation and problem solving within the architecture, engineering, construction, and operation (AECO) space. Specializing in complex geometry, performance driven design, and interoperability he leads the development of Hermes, Foster + Partners' in-house data exchange tool, enabling real-time collaboration across applications, machines, and locations, streamlining the design cycles and connecting stakeholders. 
In addition to his professional career, Marios is a lecturer at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL. With teaching experience gained across several institutions – namely the Architectural Association School of Architecture and University of Innsbruck, Marios’ research contributions on computational design have achieved widespread recognition.

ICD Stuttgart

Martin Alvarez is a Research Associate at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) at the University of Stuttgart, where he specialises in computational wood architecture and robotic timber construction.
Alvarez studied Architecture at the University of Buenos Aires (U.B.A.), where he received his architectural degree in 2008. He subsequently completed the prestigious ITECH (Integrative Technologies and Architectural Design Research) program at the University of Stuttgart with distinction. Before joining ICD in 2017, he gained international experience working at Ciro Najle General Design Bureau on computational design projects and at Estudio Ruiz Orrico in Argentina, where he completed various construction projects.
Currently, Alvarez is a key team member in the Universal Timber Slab project, a groundbreaking European Innovation Council-funded research initiative aimed at developing novel point-supported multi-story timber slab systems. 

Divario Ukraine

Martin Huber (born 1956) is an entrepreneur with over 45 years of experience in window construction and international social and construction projects. He managed Huber Fenster AG and Divario AG for decades and handed over all companies to his three sons in 2022. He is currently involved as President of Divario GmbH Ukraine and in the Ukraine Hilfe association. In addition to his technical training and further education in business administration, his passion for sustainable construction, social responsibility, and forest reforestation - both in Switzerland and Ukraine - has shaped him. In his private life, he is an enthusiastic sportsman and oak grower.

Bollinger+Grohmann

Matthew Tam is a computational designer based in Vienna, having studied architecture at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, SCI Arc and University of Melbourne. He is core to the Karamba3D team, regularly holding workshops at conferences and institutions such as DigitalFUTURES, CAADRIA, AAG, Design Modeling Symposium, Smart Geometry and McNeel. Matthew leads the Design Technology department in Bollinger+Grohmann Vienna working at the interface of architectural, structural and computational design.

Snøhetta

Since 2011 Patrick Lüth has been managing the Snøhetta Studio in Innsbruck, which he has developed into an office with around 40 employees. In 2005, after studying architecture in Innsbruck, he started working in the Oslo office where he participated in numerous international competitions.
Snøhetta, especially known for cultural projects and for the sensitive interplay of architecture and landscape, has worked intensively with timber construction over the years. Gaining experience with projects on a smaller scale, the expertise is now used for large office and educational buildings like the extension of the University in Klagenfurt, a boarding school in Gstaad or an office building in Munich.

Politecnico di Milano

Pierpaolo Ruttico is an architect-engineer and researcher at Politecnico di Milano, specializing in complex constructions and advanced production processes. He previously worked in New York City for PelliClarke&Partners, then earned a Ph.D. in Building Engineering, with a specialization in non-standard geometries. He is the founder and director of INDEXLAB, a multidisciplinary research group established in 2010. INDEXLAB explores contemporary architectural languages, pioneering advanced processes in digital fabrication, machine learning, and robotics. In 2025, he authored X-Boundaries. Cross-Disciplinary Research for the Built Environment (Edifir), and co-authored Prompted Construction. Protocols for a New Architectural Intelligence (TAB-Edizioni), exploring generative AI and prompt-based design-to-construction.

BIG

Preety Anand is an architect & computational designer with experience on working on large scale and complex projects set in diverse contexts. Her noteworthy experiences include parametrically modelling façade systems, modelling and rationalizing complex geometry and investigating the aspect of interoperability. Her goal is to develop holistic computational design tools and workflows which continuously adjust responding to the specific needs of the phase.  She is currently working as an architect and computational designer on the geometrically complex and space-defining timber structure of the Zurich Airport.

MAEID/ETH Zürich

Tiziano Derme is an architect and a Ph.D. researcher at the Chair for Digital Building Technologies (dbt), Institute of Technology in Architecture (ITA) at the Department of Architecture at ETH Zurich.His research focuses on the integration of biotechnologies and enzymatic processes into Architecture and the construction industry.Currently, he is interested in the development of novel bio-composites using wood decay fungi.Tiziano is also a visiting scientist at EMPA in the Bio-Engineered Wood group and the co-founder of the design and research office MAEID-Büro für Architektur & multimediale Kunst. 

Design-to-Production

Ursula Frick is a specialist in digital planning and Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA). As a Senior Consultant at Design-to-Production in Zurich, she focuses on translating complex architectural designs into fabrication-ready digital models. Previously, she led the Advanced Geometry Group at Blumer-Lehmann, specializing in complex timber structures and CNC-compatible geometry. A former digital fabrication researcher at ETH Zurich and co-founder of [uto], she developed parametric design tools such as Geco and MeshEdit. Ursula has researched, taught, and lectured internationally at institutions including ETH Zurich, the AA, PennDesign, SCI-Arc, and Tamkang University in Taipei.