ICD

Research Group Leader Felix Amtsberg (Felix Amtsberg) has completed his work at ICD University of Stuttgart. He is now Professor of Production and Automation Technology in Timber Construction at Hochschule Biberach

Felix joined ICD in 2019 and led the Multi-Actor Fabrication Research Group until 2025. As a member of Cluster of Excellence IntCDC, his research focused on novel digital fabrication platforms for timber structures, with a particular emphasis on multi-actor and human-robot collaboration supported by augmented reality.

At IntCDC, Felix contributed to RP 4-1 - Cyber-Physical Wood Fabrication Platform, RP 4-2 - Cyber-Physical Fabrication Platform: Fluid Fabrication, and AP 29 - AR-Informed Collaborative Timber (Pre-)Fabrication. He also advised thesis projects and contributed to teaching within the ITECH Master Studio Master of Science programme.

Before joining ICD, Felix completed an apprenticeship as a joiner and studied architecture at Universität Kassel. From 2011 to 2016, he worked as a Scientific Assistant at Technische Universität Graz, where he coordinated the ABB Robotic Research and Teaching Laboratory and earned his PhD with distinction in 2016. From 2016 to 2019, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Singapore University of Technology and Design and MIT, investigating combinations of unprocessed natural construction materials and digital fabrication methods.

At HBC, Felix holds the newly established endowed professorship “Produktions- und Automatisierungstechnik im Holzbau” within the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Project Management, strengthening the university’s focus on timber construction and digitalization.

Thank you, Felix, for your outstanding research, generous collaboration, and dedication to the institute’s development. On behalf of the entire ICD team and all ITECH students, we wish you every success in your new role at HBC!

Research Group Leader CHRISTOPH ZECHMEISTER (Christoph Zechmeister) has completed his work at ICD University of Stuttgart. He is now a professor at Florida International University School of Architecture (FIU School of Architecture).

Christoph joined ICD in 2018, he completed his PhD in 2024 with distinction and was leading the Computational Fiber Architecture Research Group at ICD, which focuses on developing and implementing methods for designing and fabrication large-scale fibrous building systems.

Christoph´s research at ICD focused on developing methods and processes for designing and fabrication large-scale fibre composite structures, utilizing diverse material systems from carbon and glass fibres, to pioneering explorations into natural fibres and bio-resins.

His research led directly to the construction of the Hybrid Flax Pavilion, Wangen im Allgäu, the Fibrous Tectonics installation at MAXXI, Rome, Maison Fibre for the Venice Biennale 2021, Texoversum Reutlingen, and the BUGA Fiber Pavilion.

Christoph was additionally part of the research team for the livMatS Pavilion, an ITECH studio project which constitutes the first building ever with a load-bearing structure that is entirely made of robotically wound flax fibre. He additionally supervised Master’s thesis projects in our ITECH Master Studio Master of Science programme and has widely published and lectured.
Prior to joining ICD, Christoph worked as an architect and designer in several renowned architectural offices, including Baumschlager Eberle in Zürich, Switzerland, and UN Studio in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He earned his Master of Science in Architecture degree with honors from Vienna University of Technology, and he holds a Master of Advanced Studies in Architecture and Information from ETH Zürich.

Thank you, Christoph, for your outstanding research and extraordinary dedication to the institute’s development. On behalf of the entire ICD team and all ITECH students, we wish you every success in your new role at FIU School of Architecture! 🐾

We are excited to announce multiple open Research Associate positions at the Department for Computing in Architecture at , directed by Thomas Wortmann.

ICD/CA sits at the intersection of architecture, engineering, and computer science, with a focus on artificial intelligence methods. Much of our research is tied to the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC Universität Stuttgart, which is a leading research center in the field of computational architecture, engineering and construction, and spans four areas: Performance-informed Design, Material-informed Design and Fabrication, Representation and Generation of Building Designs, and Digital Twins and AI for Human-Robot Collaboration.

Currently, ICD/CA is looking for research associates (TV-L E13, 75%) specifically for the following topics:

• Digital twins for On-Site Robotic Construction, in the context of the IntCDC research project 41-1 as well as a new EIC Pathfinder project.
• AI for Building Construction Detailing, in the context of the new Central Innovation Program for SMEs “AI for Building Design” at the KI-Bauplanung Innovationsnetzwerk.

Successful candidates will hold a master's degree in architecture or computer science, bring strong Python programming skills, and demonstrate motivation for interdisciplinary, independent research. Experience with PyTorch and/or ROS, architectural practice, and German language skills are appreciated.

In return, we offer the opportunity to pursue doctoral research alongside interdisciplinary partners at ICD, join the International Max Planck Research School for Intelligent Systems (IMPRS-IS) graduate school, contribute to teaching in the international ITECH MSc programme, and take part in the exciting new funding period of Cluster of Excellence IntCDC.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with an initial deadline of Friday, 19 June.

For more info, please visit our website.

Come join a growing team of excellent researchers and help us to push our research on AI for AEC to the next level!

© Image credits: ICD/CA University of Stuttgart

We are delighted to share that the Wangen Tower has been recognized at the Holzbaupreis Baden-Württemberg.

Presented by the Ministerium für Ernährung, Ländlichen Raum und Verbraucherschutz Baden-Württemberg (MLR) as part of the Holzbau-Offensive, the award honors exemplary timber projects that demonstrate innovation, architectural quality, and the future potential of timber construction.

The jury highlighted how the tower transforms an inherent property of wood into a constructive principle: flat-fabricated cross-laminated timber elements are shaped through controlled drying and become load-bearing curved components. In this way, the material’s natural shrinkage gives rise to an innovative and elegant structure in which height, form, and function merge into a unique viewing experience.

We are grateful for this recognition and proud to see the project acknowledged among outstanding timber buildings from across Baden-Württemberg.

For more information about the project, please visit our website.
https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/wangen-tower/

© Image Credits: Felix Kästle, Martin Looser