Joshua G. Stein (Radical Craft) / Aaron Sprecher + Chandler Ahrens (Open Source Architecture)

Research & Deploy, The LA Forum's fall lecture Series, examines the role of research in contemporary architectural practice. Los Angeles' Architectural history is deeply ingrained with technological, material, formal and cultural experimentation. Explorations including Wright's textile blocks, the fabrication techniques of Charles and Ray Eames, and Gehry's formal and material developments have all pioneered new territory for the discipline of architecture. Today's Pioneers continue westward expansion armed with a range of interests unique to the contemporary moment. This series will zoom in on a group of practitioners whose research at the margins of the discipline is expanding the architectural designer's territory for play. From advanced technology to cultural aesthetics, a dizzying array of new trajectories is quickly taking shape. For these designers research is a practice based, not a project based activity. The cultural value of this approach is that it offers disciplinary intelligence without the shackles of sensibility. For more information visit the LA Forum website: www.laforum.org