Bridging Architecture and Coding: DFAB Alumni Spotlight on Simon Griffioen

Simon Griffioen participated in the MAS ETH DFAB program in 2021. Despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, he remained on campus in Zurich during the lockdown to carry out experiments and engage in hands-on research on the labs of ITA. Currently, he teaches at the Robot Lab of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, where students, researchers, and industry partners collaborate on projects that accelerate the circular transition in the built environment by aligning robotic production with material waste streams. In addition to teaching, he is a researcher with the Robot Lab’s Digital Production Research Group, where he investigates the use of irregular tree forks in construction, exploring their potential through digital fabrication techniques.

Simon Griffioen experimenting at the Robot Lab of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.

Fascinated by the DFAB-Universum

Before Simon joined the MAS ETH DFAB, he saw projects that emerged from the NCCR Digital Fabrication and was fascinated. “I was very inspired by the projects that were happening there and I really wanted to learn these things because I thought they were super cool.” He wanted to apply the knowledge available at ETH Zurich and the NCCR Digital Fabrication for whatever his next step might be. Driven by this fascination, Simon saw the MAS ETH DFAB as the perfect place to reconnect with his architectural background while integrating his coding expertise.

A sweet Spot between Architecture and Coding

“Participating in the MAS made a very big change for me because after my studies in architecture at TU Delft, consulting was my professional work.” Simon was working in data science consulting which in his words was very far from architecture and fabrication. “I wanted to use the MAS to bridge the gap between my architecture background and my coding experience, let's say software experience that I gained also with working. I saw a nice sweet spot with the MAS where you would combine those two.” That potential proved true. During the program, he learned a lot from his peers about conceptual thinking and design, while contributing his own knowledge in software development.

Simon is working on a scaling-up task with a collaborative robot in the MAS ETH DFAB.

Importing the Hands on Approach

Participating in the MAS not only helped Simon clarify his career direction but also reinforced his appreciation for hands-on experimentation. He emphasized that ETH Zurich fostered an environment where students were encouraged to prototype, iterate, and test ideas continuously. “In the MAS ETH DFAB, you constantly make, test, and iterate—first on a small CoBot, then on larger robots, gradually scaling up. I think this is super cool,” he said. This iterative cycle of design and production became a fundamental aspect of his approach, something he has now brought to Amsterdam.

Potential for Digital Fabrication in the Netherlands

Simon observed that the mindset at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences closely mirrored that of ETH Zurich and the MAS ETH DFAB. He also highlighted the growing interest in digital fabrication and circular construction within the Netherlands. A recent symposium at the university attracted industry partners who were highly intrigued by the lab’s facilities. “Everyone was super interested—they hadn’t seen anything like it in the Netherlands before,” Simon noted. However, he acknowledged that establishing solid industry collaborations would take time. “If we can realize these collaborations with industry—develop tools and methodologies that we can test in real-life projects—then I think that will be a great achievement,” he said. He also emphasized the importance of integrating students into this process. “If we can include students in the research and development, teaching them while pushing the field forward, then there's a lot of exciting work ahead,” he concluded.

A student in the Robot Lab at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences demonstrates a brick stacking process.

The Robot Lab at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS) investigates the added value of Digital Design and Robotic Production to help address urgent societal challenges, while actively integrating the domains of Education, Research and Practice. The lab is always open to new people who are interested in robotic fabrication and want to contribute to its collaborative, multidisciplinary environment. If you're interested in getting involved, feel free to reach out directly to Simon: s.griffioen@hva.nl.