Graduate Program Director Carl Lostritto works alongside students and research assistants hacking machines, writing computer code, sampling from history, designing tools and adapting technology to augment human authorship in pursuit of architecture. Much of this work manifests as drawing. Because drawing does not have a fixed relationship to architecture, Lostritto also conducts research that involves reflection, analysis and critique of drawing relative to form and space. With a group of interdisciplinary faculty, he recently initiated RISD’s new Computation, Technology and Culture concentration and taught first versions of its required courses: Introduction to Computation and Computation Research Studio.

Much of Lostritto’s recent practice and scholarship address the broad implications of a refined technique: computer programming to control a vintage pen plotter. This work involves intense and iterative refinement of the algorithmic, aesthetic and material nature of the line. It is also a conceptual enterprise as it relies on and addresses the capacity of the human eye, the adaptability of historic conventions, the role of representation and the nature of architecture. In sum, Lostritto draws architecture, draws about architecture, draws for architecture and draws as architecture. His contributions to the field take the forms of artistic exhibitions, essays and professional collaborations on built and unbuilt work. Two recent essays elucidate his agenda: “A Collection of Circle-Spheres: A Pre-Digital Post-Digital Convergence” in Drawing Futures (published by the Bartlett and edited by Frédéric Migayrou, Laura Allen and Luke Pearson) and "Computational Hatching” in the Journal of Architectural Education (Vol. 70, Issue 1, edited by Amy Kulper).

Lostritto joined the RISD faculty in 2012. Previously, he taught architecture and design at MIT, Boston Architectural College, Catholic University of America and the University of Maryland.

Fall 2018 Courses

• ARCH-2139-01 Graduate Theory Seminar: Making Discourse
• ARCH-2101-06 The Making Of Design Principles

Wintersession 2019 Courses

• ARCH-8965-02 Collaborative Study
• ARCH-8900-01 ISP Major

Spring 2019 Courses

• ARCH-2142-03 Architectural Analysis