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Philippe Morel
CEO at SETL
Professional Background
Philippe Morel is a distinguished architect and theorist with a rich and impactful career spanning decades. As the founder of EZCT Architecture & Design Research established in 2000, and XtreeE, a leading large-scale 3D printing corporation founded in 2015, Philippe has exemplified what it means to innovate within the realms of architecture and technology. He served as the founding CEO of XtreeE, where he played a pivotal role in initiating and financing the company's establishment, making significant contributions to the emergence of 3D printing technologies in architectural practice.
Philippe currently holds a notable position as a Visiting Professor at University College London (UCL) at The Bartlett, and is also an Associate Professor at ENSA Paris-Malaquais. His dedication to education is evident through his leadership in the Digital Knowledge department, which he co-founded alongside Professor Christian Girard. His academic journey includes past roles as a Research Cluster leader and MArch Diploma Unit Master at UCL Bartlett, an invited Professor at the prestigious Berlage Institute, and a Course Master at the Architectural Association (AA), where he led seminars focused on History and Theory as well as design studios in the Graduate Architectural Design Research Lab (AADRL).
With over two decades of experience, Philippe Morel has made substantial contributions to the understanding and exploration of Computational Architecture. His extensive writing portfolio includes numerous published essays that shed light on the intersection between architecture, language, and computation, making him a respected voice in the academic and professional communities.
Philippe’s scholarly contributions extend beyond the classroom. He has lectured at top institutions globally, including renowned places such as MIT, Harvard GSD, Pratt Institute, Columbia GSAPP, TU Wien, ETH Zurich, and many others. His professional influence is marked by his participation in curating exhibitions, notably the acclaimed "Architecture beyond Forms: The Computational Turn of Architecture" held at the Maison de l’architecture et de la ville PACA in Marseille in February 2007. The exhibition was intriguing as it addressed both the historical and theoretical dimensions of the linguistic and computational shifts in architectural design, further emphasizing Philippe's profound understanding of the evolution of the field.
His architectural firm, EZCT, is widely recognized with works featured in permanent collections at prestigious venues such as the FRAC Centre and the Centre Pompidou. The firm's innovative designs have been showcased in various exhibitions, including the recently highlighted "Out of Hand: Materializing the Postdigital" at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, reinforcing the relevance of his work in contemporary architectural discourse.
Education and Achievements
Philippe’s strong academic foundation set the stage for his successful career. He graduated with the DEFA Degree, which is a foundational bachelor’s program in architecture, achieving top honors (1st Rank) during both years of study at the École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Montpellier. Following this, he completed the DPLG Degree, a coveted French Master’s in Architecture, where he graduated summa cum laude from the Ecole d'Architecture de Paris-Belleville, showcasing his unwavering commitment to academic excellence.
In addition to his architectural studies, Philippe has cultivated a rich understanding of philosophy, which complements his architectural theories. He pursued a Bachelor level in General Philosophy, focusing on the History of Philosophy, Logic, and Epistemology at Université Paris X Nanterre, before continuing to a Master level in Philosophy of Language and Analytic Philosophy at Université de Picardie Jules Verne, increasing his knowledge of how these disciplines intertwine with architectural theory and practice.
Philippe Morel’s academic achievements and professional endeavors underscore his status as a thought leader in architecture, particularly concerning the development of digitally-driven practices that engage both theoretical and practical realms of architectural design.
Notable Achievements
The breadth of Philippe Morel's contributions is evident in several notable accomplishments throughout his career:
- Educational Leadership: Philippe has played a pivotal role in shaping architectural education through his positions at institutions like UCL and ENSA Paris-Malaquais, where he has fostered a new generation of architects who are adept in digital practice and computational design.
- Founding Innovative Firms: By founding EZCT and XtreeE, Philippe has been at the forefront of integrating advanced technologies within architecture, specifically through large-scale 3D printing, positioning himself as a leader in pioneering modern architectural practices.
- Global Influence: His worldwide lectures have enriched academic dialogues across esteemed institutions, contributing to discussions on computational architecture and its implications for design.
- Curatorial Projects: His curation of the exhibition addressing the computational turn in architecture is a testament to his deep understanding of the historical and conceptual frameworks that inform contemporary architectural practices.
- Extensive Publications: Philippe has authored multiple essays that address the theoretical underpinnings of computational architecture, reinforcing his role as an intellectual key player in the ongoing discourse surrounding architecture and computation.
Philippe Morel’s career is a remarkable narrative of intellect, innovation, and dedication to the field of architecture. His dual expertise as an architect and educator enables him to influence both the academic and professional landscapes significantly. His commitment to exploring the relationships between architecture, technology, and philosophy positions him as an indispensable figure in modern architectural discourse.
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Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
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