The presentation begins with Steven Holl Architects' history of material research and glass, exploring how the firm's interest in light and the haptic realm fostered a culture of experimentation. It then follows institutional projects that led to collaborations with artisans and studios such as Keep Brooklyn. Research at UrbanGlass and Brooklyn Glass, together with artist collaborations, expanded that work into new approaches to mold making, digital fabrication and production, leading to independent work via the Experimental Mold Workshop with Gosia Pawlowska and the research practice Cherry Molds. This talk explores the feedback loop between architectural research, artist collaboration and making.

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About Michael Haddy

Michael Haddy is Director of Fabrication at Steven Holl Architects in New York, where he leads material research, prototyping and digital fabrication for architectural projects. His work explores experimental approaches to architecture, glass and craft through research, mold making, digital fabrication and collaborative production. He also operates Cherry Molds, a research-based practice supporting artists, designers and architects. As a 2022 UrbanGlass Visiting Artist, Haddy partnered with Gosia Pawlowska to develop the Experimental Mold Workshop, combining CNC machining, robotic incremental sheet forming and kiln casting to investigate new approaches to mold making. He lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.