In this talk, Keyan from VIA argues that making buildings is really about making decisions—and every decision involves risk. Rather than treating technology as just software or tools, he presents it as a wider system of practices, processes, and ways of working that help teams manage complexity and turn ambitious designs into built reality.

Using a series of facade case studies, he shows how VIA combines prototyping, computational design, material research, and fabrication strategy to realise challenging projects at different scales. From experimental early commissions to major global developments, the talk explores how risk can be reduced through testing, automation, and better coordination between design and construction.

A central theme is how digital models must do more than represent form—they must carry information clearly enough to support engineering, fabrication, and installation. Keyan highlights VIA’s approach to “procedural BIM” as a way of managing large amounts of variation while keeping projects buildable, efficient, and precise.

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