Nexus: Architecture and Mathematics
The aim of the Nexus Conferences
There are many connections between architecture and mathematics: mathematic principles may be used as a basis for an architectural design, or as a tool for analyzing an existing monument; architecture may be a concrete expression of mathematical ideas, becoming, in a sense, “visual mathematics”. The purpose of the Nexus conference series is to bring together all those working with ideas related to both architecture and mathematics, and to allow researchers to exchange ideas first-hand. Papers presented at the conference are subsequently published, providing a permanent archive of studies in architecture and mathematics.
Who attends the Nexus conferences
Architects, mathematicians, historians, scientists, researchers, teachers, students and others interested in the “nexus” of architecture and mathematics. Past keynote speakers have included mathematicians Henry Crapo and Lionel March, architecture historians Robert Tavernor and Alberto Perez-Gomez, architects Eduardo Souto Moura, engineer Chris Williams, educator and artist Lino Cabezas Gelabert.
The history of Nexus conferences
The Nexus conferences were created by Kim Williams, with the first edition held in 1996, with Nexus ’96 held in Fucecchio (Florence) Italy, sponsored by the Fondazione Montanelli-Bassi, under the direction of Kim Williams. The second conference, Nexus ’98, took place in Mantua, Italy, under the auspices of the Accademia Nazionale Virgiliana and the Centro Studi Leon Battista Alberti di Mantua, directed by Kim Williams and Livio Volpi Ghirardini. It was at the second conference that the decision was made to begin the Nexus Network Journal. The founding of the NNJ made possible communication and diffusion of research between the biennial Nexus conferences. Nexus 2000 took place in Ferrara, Italy, directed by Kim Williams, with the support of the Dipartimento di Matematica and the Dipartimento di Architettura of the University of Ferrara. It was at this conference that the first Round Table Discussion was held, providing an important forum for interdisciplinary discussion. Nexus 2002 was held in Óbidos, Portugal, sponsored by the Centro de Matemáteca e Aplicações Fundamentais (CMAF) of the University of Lisbon. Co-directed by Kim Williams and José Francisco Rodrigues, it was the first Nexus conference held outside Italy. Nexus 2004, co-directed by Kim Williams and Francisco Delgado Cepeda, took place in Mexico City, with the support of the Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Campus Estado de México. Nexus returned to Italy with Nexus 2006 in Genoa, co-directed by Kim Williams, Orietta Pedemonte and Sylvie Duvernoy, sponsored by the Dipartimento per la Scienza dell’Architettura of the University of Genova. Nexus 2008 was hosted by Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, and was co-directed by Kim Williams, Maria Zack, and Sylvie Duvernoy. The 2010 edition of Nexus took place in June 2010 in Porto, Portugal, sponsored by the Faculty of Sciences, the Faculty of Architecture, and the Centro de Matemáteca of the University of Porto and the FCT – Fondação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, and was co-directed by Kim Williams, João Pedro Xavier, and João Nunes Tavares.
Nexus publications
From 1996 until 2008, papers presented at the Nexus conferences were published in dedicated volumes in the book series “Nexus: Architecture and Mathematics” published by Kim Williams Books. At Nexus ’98 in Mantua, the decision was made to begin the Nexus Network Journal. The founding of the NNJ made possible communication and diffusion of research between the biennial Nexus conferences. Because of the international distribution and large number of readers that they NNJ has attained, it was decided that beginning in 2010 the papers presented at the biennial Nexus conferences would be published in the Nexus Network Journal.
