352 eCAADe 24 - session 8: computer supported fabrication & construction CNC Compliant Methods of Design Understanding Technology Pia Fricker, Oskar Zieta Institute of Building Technology, Department of Architecture, Swiss Federal School of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland http://www.caad.arch.ethz.ch, fricker@hbt.arch.ethz.ch, zieta@hbt.arch.ethz.ch This paper investigates new design methods, showing the experimental use of new digital tools, CNC-techniques and technologies so as to expand the defnition of contemporary architecture. This investigation of new technologies extends the traditional practice of architectural design to include issues of design, multime- dia, programming, control systems and fabrication by using computer controlled machines. The main teaching and research focus of the Master of Advanced Stud- ies in Architecture (MAS), Specialization in Computer Aided Architectural Design (CAAD), Prof. Dr. Ludger Hovestadt, is the computer based architectural design and its automated production. The aim of our research and teaching project is to achieve a close connection be- tween design and production by embedding the “digital chain” in the whole process. The digital chain is a design and production sequence with no analogue steps; the process offers high fexibility in terms of design and production. The use of new digi- tal tools in architecture extends the profession beyond traditional design. Keywords: Digital Methods of Construction; Representation; Integration of CNC technology in Education; “Digital Chain” Historical Background During the last fve years, the Chair for CAAD at the ETH Zurich is searching for strategies on how to implement the “Digital Chain” into the architectural practice. Research and teaching focus is to develop a design and production process, which is at any point computer supported and provides digital interfaces. Questions like: “What efects has the application of the theory of mass customization on building pro- duction and the formal language of architecture?”, are subject-matters of our work. These questions are driven by the current development of contemporary architecture. There is an obvious trend to free-form architecture with a complex geometry and struc- ture. Aspects like efciency, complexity and refne- ment are basic principles of any architectural design, which have to be solved in an adequate manner. Introduction The use of CNC fabrication machining and the in-