DEERFIELD, ILL. — While there maybe many responses to this question from an intellectual or theoretical perspective, the tangible answer is that Smart Geometry is a group of individuals — architects, structural engineers, academics, software developers, and other professionals — allied around a common interest. But it is also an event. The Smart Geometry 2010 Conference was held in Barcelona, Spain on March 23-24, 2010.

According to www.SmartGeometry.org, computation and the use of computer as an intelligent design aid provide the focus for the SmartGeometry Group. It was formed in 2001 as a partnership between practice, research, and academia. Many architectural and engineering practices — Foster+Partners, KPF, Grimshaw, Arup, Buro Happold — and educational institutions — Architectural Association, MIT, Delft Technical University, University of Bath — are represented in its core organization.

Exploring topics ranging from parametric design and scripting to digital manufacturing, the group organizes an annual workshop and an international conference. The SmartGeometry group describes itself as moving its original focus from tools and techniques to a new forum where the critical language of emerging architecture can be formed. A central theme to the group’s existence is to develop “the craft of digital design.”

This year’s event took the digital design focus to the next level and explored digital prototypes and fabrication. The two-day event culminated in a week-long workshop hosted at the exemplary facilities of the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain. Learn more about the event at www.SmartGeometryConference.com, and to view a slideshow of the event, click here.

The conference was sponsored by Bentley Systems, Incorporated. Bentley’s GenerativeComponents (GC) generative design software was developed in close collaboration with the SmartGeometry Group user community over many years. Announced in March 2010, Bentley is now offering the software a no-charge, stand-alone technology preview release. The new offering provides a feature set solely focused on computational design and includes no-charge instructional materials and user support through a dedicated online GC forum — ensuring the successful exploration of generative design software by a larger community of infrastructure professionals. The software can be downloaded with a single click at www.Bentley.com/GetGC.