About the person
In 2017 Volker Helm became a professor for digital methods in architecture at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Dortmund.
After successfully completing his studies in Architecture at the University of Siegen (Germany), he specialised in CAAD as part of a Master of Advanced Studies under the supervision of Professor Ludger Hovestadt (ETH Zurich). In particular, his studies focused on computer-aided architectural design and automated production.
He subsequently worked for six years at the Herzog & de Meuron architectural office in Basel where he specialised in the development, programming and realisation of complex geometries. During this time, he contributed to numerous internationally renowned projects such as the National Stadium in Beijing. In addition, he supervised internal seminars and evaluated computer-controlled production machines.
From 2010 to 2017, Volker Helm worked with Professor Fabio Gramazio and Professor Matthias Kohler as a Research Associate at the ETH Zurich within the Department of Architecture and Digital Fabrication. His research focuses on the algorithmic description of architectural construction elements and their robot-based production. In 2013 he took over as head of Operational Research within this department. In addition, in 2016 he was a postdoc at the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Digital Fabrication (ETH Zürich).
In 2015, he successfully completed his doctoral degree under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Georg Trogemann (Academy of Media Arts in Cologne - Department of Experimental Informatics) and Prof. Matthias Kohler (ETH Zurich - Chair of Architecture and Digital Fabrication).
As part of his academic work, Volker Helm publishes scientific papers, supervises studies and research, and lectures at various universities and colleges.