Association For Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe - History and Organisation

History and Organisation

eCAADe is a non-profit organisation which has the following goals:

• Create an information network about CAAD activities and facilities of special interest existing in schools of architecture in Europe.
• Search for solutions to facilitate the exchange of staff, students, teaching programmes, and computer software between schools of architecture.
• Make specific proposals towards the creation of closer relations between education, research, and practice in the area of architectural design and CAAD.
• Establish contact with governmental, international, and professional organizations and agencies.

Throughout the years, many initiatives were undertaken to achieve these goals (some of them listed below). The main event within eCAADe is the annual conference, which takes place at a different location within the region that eCAADe covers. The first conference was held in 1982 at the Technische Universiteit Delft, Netherlands. The first five conferences were formative towards the official establishment of the association in 1987. The formal statutes are registered under Belgium law in Brussels.

The situation in CAAD has changed substantially from the early years to today. The most influential changes are: increasing computational power of pc's, development of all kinds of simulation techniques (structure, light, thermal, etc.), and the development of Internet. These dynamics, and the fact that the association has always run as a voluntary effort by many, means that the working of the association and the targets that were set evolved throughout its history. The current structure, means of communications, and working method emerged as good practice from experiences in the past. It is important to note therefore, that the description below reflects the current situation, and that this is based on the experience by those who built up and maintained the association.