Simon Schleicher

Structures and emerging building technologies: lightweight design and biomimetics, structural design and parametric design, digital fabrication and robotic manufacturing.

Simon Schleicher is an architectural designer, researcher, and educator whose work combines architecture, engineering, and biology. He serves as associate professor in the Department of Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley. Throughout his career, Simon’s work has focused on bio-inspired design, lightweight and material-efficient structures, parametric design, digital fabrication, and robotic construction. His research has recently been recognized with prestigious Bakar Fellowships and Hellman Fellowships. Prior to coming to UC Berkeley, Simon was project manager for the first ICD/ ITKE Research Pavilion in 2010, which won the DETAIL prize and was nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award. Simon has won several awards, including the Gips-Schüle Research Prize, the International Bionic Award, the Ralph Adam Cram Award, the Imre Halasz Thesis Prize, the British Institution Award, and the Pininfarina Förderpreis Prize. During his studies, Simon received a Merit-Based Full-Tuition Scholarship at MIT and scholarships from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the prestigious German National Academic Foundation (Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes).

ARCH 203: Integrative Design Studio

ARCH 205: Studio One — Bio-inspired Design and Fabrication

ARCH 250: Introduction to Structures

ARCH 252: Form and Structure

ARCH 259: Robotic Fabrication

ARCH 259: Form-finding and Panelization I+II

ARCH 259: Flexible Hybrid Structures I+II

ARCH 259: Variable Property Design and Fabrication I+II

ARCH 259: Bending and Folding Structures I+II

ARCH 259: Bending and Tension

ARCH 259: Solar Skins

ARCH 299 / CEE 299: Independent Research for Graduate Students

Fellowship of Al-Falah Program in Science and Engineering, 2025

Bakar Fellowship / Spark Award, 2021

Hellman Fellowship, 2019

Regents’ Junior Faculty Fellowship, 2016

Gips-Schüle-Forschungspreis, 2013

International Bionic-Award, 2012

Techtextil and Avantex Innovation Award, 2011

DETAIL Prize, Category “University”, ICD/ITKE, 2011

Books, Book Chapters, and Special Issues:

Schleicher, S., La Magna, R., & Knippers, J. (2017). Bending-active Plates: Planning and Construction. In Fabricate: Rethinking Design and Construction, 242-249.

La Magna, R., Schleicher, S., & Knippers, J. (2016). Bending-active plates. Advances in architectural geometry, 2016, 170-87.

Schleicher, S. (2015). Bio-inspired compliant mechanisms for architectural design: transferring bending and folding principles of plant leaves to flexible kinetic structures. Forschungsberichte aus dem Institut für Tragkonstruktionen und Konstruktives Entwerfen – Research reports of the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE), 40, Universität Stuttgart, Fakultät für Architektur und Stadtplanung. ISBN: 978-3-922302-40-7

Schleicher, S., Rastetter, A., La Magna, R., Schönbrunner, A., Haberbosch, N., & Knippers, J. (2015). Form-finding and design potentials of bending-active plate structures. In Modelling Behaviour (pp. 53-63). Springer, Cham.

Lienhard, J., Schleicher, S., & Knippers, J. (2015). Bio-inspired, flexible structures and materials. In Biotechnologies and biomimetics for civil engineering (pp. 275-296). Springer, Cham.

Bar-Cohen, Y. (2016). Biomimetics: nature-based innovation. CRC press.

Menges, A., Schleicher, S., Fleischmann, M. (2011). Research Pavilion ICD/ITKE. In Fabricate: Making Digital Architecture. (pp. 24-27). Riverside Architectural Press.

Thesis:

Schleicher, S. (2015).  "Bio-inspired compliant mechanisms for architectural design: transferring bending and folding principles of plant leaves to flexible kinetic structures. Forschungsberichte aus dem Institut für Tragkonstruktionen und Konstruktives Entwerfen – Research reports of the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE), 40, Universität Stuttgart, Fakultät für Architektur und Stadtplanung.

Articles in Peer-reviewed Journals:

Darweesh, B., Gutierrez, M. P., & Schleicher, S. (2023). Non-planar granular 3D printing. Construction Robotics, 1-16.

Schleicher, S., & Herrmann, M. (2020). Constructing hybrid gridshells using bending-active formwork. International Journal of Space Structures, 0956059920924189.

Schleicher, S., Kontominas, G., Makker, T., Tatli, I., & Yavaribajestani, Y. (2019). Studio One: A New Teaching Model for Exploring Bio-Inspired Design and Fabrication. Biomimetics, 4(2), 34.

Santos, L., Schleicher, S., & Caldas, L. (2017). Automation of CAD models to BEM models for performance based goal-oriented design methods. Building and Environment, 112, 144-158.

Schleicher, S., Lienhard, J., Poppinga, S., Speck, T., & Knippers, J. (2015). A methodology for transferring principles of plant movements to elastic systems in architecture. Computer-Aided Design, 60, 105-117.

Lienhard, J., Schleicher, S., Poppinga, S., Masselter, T., Milwich, M., Speck, T., & Knippers, J. (2011). Flectofin: A hingeless flapping mechanism inspired by nature. Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 6(4), 045001.

Conference Papers (peer-reviewed): 

Darweesh, B., Yavaribajestani, Y., Wang, S., Zhou, T., Moog, L., and Schleicher, S. (2025). "Conformal 3D Printing on Bending-Active Formwork: Exploring a New Approach to the Fabrication of Wide-Spanning Structures." Submitted to Proceedings of the IASS Annual Symposium 2025 "The Living Past as a Source of Innovation," México City, México, October 27-31.

Wang, S., and Schleicher, S. (2025). "Conformal 3D Printing on Bending-Active Formwork: Structural Implications of Toolpath Strategies and Interlayer Timing." Submitted to Proceedings of the IASS Annual Symposium 2025 "The Living Past as a Source of Innovation," México City, México, October 27-31.

Wang, S., and Schleicher, S. (2025). "BarkBeetle: Generating Conformal 3D Printing Toolpaths with a Skeleton Graph Approach." Submitted to The 7th International Conference on Computational Design and Robotic Fabrication (CDRF2025), Shanghai, China.

Yavaribajestani, Y., Herrmann, M., Mosalam, K., Schleicher, S. (2023). Investigation of Cross-sections for Hybrid Gridshells based on Bending-active Formwork. In Proceedings of IASS Annual Symposia. International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS), Melbourne, Australia.

Hens, I., Pennetier, S., & Schleicher, S. (2022). Embodied Carbon Of Timber Unitized Curtain Wall. Facade Tectonics 2022 World Congress, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Yavaribajestani, Y., Herrmann, M., & Schleicher, S. (2022). Parameter sensitivity analysis of hybrid gridshells with bending-active formwork. In Proceedings of IASS

Santos, L., Schleicher, S., & Caldas, L. (2019). Automatic Simplification Of Complex Building Geometry For Whole-building Energy Simulations. 16th IBPSA International Conference & Exhibition Building Simulation 2019, Rome, Italy.

Yavaribajestani, Y., & Schleicher, S. (2019). Bio-inspired Lamellar Structures: Studio One Research Pavilion 2018.  ACADIA conference, ACADIA 2019 Ubiquity and Autonomy, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA.

Schleicher, S. (2018). Potential of 3D Printed Joinery for Bending-active Structures. In Proceedings of IASS Annual Symposia (Vol. 2018, No. 13, pp. 1-6). International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS).

Zheng, H., & Schleicher, S. (2018). Bio-inspired 3D Printing Experiments. CAADRIA 2018 CFP: Learning, Prototyping & Adapting, 23rd International Conference on Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia, Beijing, China.

Schleicher, S., Santos, L., & Caldas, L. (2017). Data-driven shading systems: Application in curved glass facades. Facade Tectonics World Congress 2018, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Schleicher, S., La Magna, R., & Zabel, J. (2017). Bending-active Sandwich Shells: Studio One Research Pavilion 2017. ACADIA conference, ACADIA 2017 Disciplines & Disruptions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Schleicher, S., La Magna, R., & Knippers, J. (2017). Bending-active Plates: Planning and Construction. In Fabricate Conference 2017: Rethinking Design and Construction, The Bartlett School of Architecture, London, UK.

Schleicher, S., & La Magna, R. (2016). Bending-active Plates: Form-finding and Form-conversion. ACADIA 2016 Posthuman Frontiers: Data, Designers and Cognitive Machines, University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Ann Arbor, USA.

La Magna, R., Schleicher, S., & Knippers, J. (2016). Bending-active Plates: Form and Structure. Advances in Architectural Geometry (AAG) 2016 Symposium, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Panagoulia, E., & Schleicher, S. (2016). Bending-active Structures: A Case Study for an Office Chaise Lounge. eCAADe 2016, 34th Annual Conference, Oulu School of Architecture, Finland.

Schleicher, S., Rastetter, A., La Magna, R., Schönbrunner, A., Haberbosch, N., & Knippers, J. (2015). Form-Finding and Design Potentials of Bending-Active Plate Structures. Design Modelling Symposium Copenhagen 2015, Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Schönbrunner, A., Haberbosch, N., Magna, R. L., Schleicher, S., Lienhard, J., & Knippers, J. (2015). Design strategies for bending-active plate structures out of multiple cross-connected layers. In Proceedings of IASS Annual Symposia (Vol. 2015, No. 23, pp. 1-11). International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS).

Schleicher, S., Lienhard, J., Poppinga, S., Masselter, T., Speck, T., & Knippers, J. (2011). Bio-inspired kinematics of adaptive shading systems for free form facades. In Proceedings of the IABSE-IASS Symposium, Taller Longer Lighter, London, UK (Vol. 9).

Schleicher, S., Lienhard, J., Poppinga, S., Masselter, T., Speck, T., & Knippers, J. (2011). Adaptive façade shading systems inspired by natural elastic kinematics. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Adaptive Architecture.

Menges, A., Schleicher, S., Fleischmann, M. (2011). Research Pavilion ICD/ITKE. In Fabricate Conference 2011: Making Digital Architecture, The Bartlett School of Architecture, London, UK.

Lienhard, J., Schleicher, S., & Knippers, J. (2011). Bending-active structures–research pavilion ICD/ITKE. In Proceedings of the International Symposium of the IABSE-IASS Symposium. London, UK: Taller Longer Lighter.

Schleicher, S., Lienhard, J., Poppinga, S., Speck, T., & Knippers, J. (2010). Abstraction of bio-inspired curved-line folding patterns for elastic foils and membranes in architecture. Design and Nature V, 479-90.

Lienhard, J., Schleicher, S., Knippers, J., Poppinga, S., & Speck, T. (2010). Form-finding of Nature Inspired Kinematics for Pliable Structures. In IASS symposium, Shanghai, China.

Lienhard, J., Poppinga, S., Schleicher, S., Speck, T., & Knippers, J. (2010). Elastic architecture: nature inspired pliable structures. Design and Nature V, 469-477.

Lienhard, J., Schleicher, S., Poppinga, S., Masselter, T., Speck, T., Walter, A., Sartori, J., Milwich, M., Stegmaier, T., Knippers, J. (2010). Wandelbarer Leichtbau in der Architektur - Biegsame Flächentragwerke auf der Grundlage bionischer Prinzipien. Conference Proceedings „Bio-inspired Fibre Materials“, Denkendorfer Symposium Bionik und faserbasierte Werkstoffe.

Lienhard, J., Schleicher, S., Poppinga, S., Walter, A., Sartori, J., Milwich, M., Stegmaier, T., Masselter, T., Speck, T., Knippers, J. (2010). Optimierung und Weiterentwicklung des Flectofin®. Conference Proceedings of the 5. Bremer Bionik Kongress ‘Patente aus der Natur‘, Bremen, Germany, 36-45.

Poppinga, S., Lienhard, J., Schleicher, S., Masselter, T., Knippers, J., & Speck, T. (2010). Gelenkfreie Klappen bei Strelitzia reginae. In Conference Proceedings of the 5. Bremer Bionik Kongress ‚Patente aus der Natur’, (pp. 320-326).

Poppinga, S., Lienhard, J., Masselter, T., Schleicher, S., Knippers, J., & Speck, T. (2010). Biomimetic deployable systems in architecture. In 6th World Congress of Biomechanics (WCB 2010). August 1-6, 2010 Singapore (pp. 40-43). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.

Poppinga, S., Lienhard, J., Schleicher, S., Masselter, T., Knippers, J., Speck, T. (2010). Perching birds and twisted petals - Plant movements as concept generators for deployable technical systems. Proceedings of the SEB Annual Main Meeting, Prague, Czech Republic, 148-149.

Poppinga, S., Masselter, T., Lienhard, J., Schleicher, S., Knippers, J., & Speck, T. (2010). Plant movements as concept generators for deployable systems in architecture. Design and Nature V, 403-409.

Poppinga, S., Masselter, T., Weißkopf, C., Vincent, O., Marmottant, P., Joyeux, M., Quilliet, C., Schleicher, S., Lienhard, J., Knippers, J., Adamec, L., Speck, T. (2010). Suckers and snappers Functional trap morphology and biomechanics of fast underwater prey capture in aquatic carnivorous plants. In Proceedings of the SEB Annual Main Meeting 2011, Glasgow, Scotland.

Lienhard, J., Poppinga, S., Schleicher, S., Masselter, T., Speck, T., & Knippers, J. (2009). Abstraction of plant movements for deployable structures in architecture. In Proc. of the 6th Plant Biomechanics Conf (pp. 389-297).