Assistant Professor of Architecture Brett Schneider will present Geometry, Form, Structure, a lecture examining the relationship between geometric precision, formal design intent, and structural performance in contemporary architecture. Grounded in his ongoing research and design work, Schneider will discuss how embracing heterogeneity in construction—material, structural, and methodological—can lead to buildings that are both materially efficient and spatially expressive.
The lecture builds on themes from Heterogeneous Constructions (Birkhäuser, 2024), co-authored with Aaron Forrest and Yasmin Vobis. In this seminal work, the authors redefine architectural assembly, advocating for integrated approaches that recognize variability as an asset in the design process. By challenging conventional notions of uniformity, their framework offers adaptability and nuance, expanding the possibilities for how buildings are conceived and realized.
“Heterogeneous Constructions is a powerful contribution to both architectural theory and practice,” notes William Ward Watkin Dean Igor Marjanović. “Brett Schneider’s research exemplifies the Rice School of Architecture’s commitment to advancing architectural discourse and positions the school at the forefront of innovative thinking in design and construction.”
This lecture is free and open to the public.
This program is made possible through the generous support of the Betty R. and George F. Pierce Jr., FAIA, Fund; the William B. Coleman Jr. Colloquium Fund for Architecture; and the Wm. W. Caudill Lecture Series Fund.