Hugo Mulder is designer, engineer, and researcher. He combines an analytical world view with a radical design attitude. Founded on a passion for movement in art, architecture and engineering, he has specialised in kinetic building design. More broadly, Hugo has recognised experience as design engineer, design coordinator, and project manager of unique and complex building projects.

Biography

With a Master’s degree in civil engineering, Hugo started work for Arup in Amsterdam in 2002. He worked as a structural engineer on projects in the Netherlands, notably the public library in Amsterdam on Oosterdokseiland.

In 2006 Hugo moved to London to join Arup’s Advanced Technology and Research group as a specialist engineer in movable structures. Project experience he gained in London includes a number of kinetic building facades, Singapore Sports Hub retractable stadium roof, the European Extremely Large Telescope, and the Las Vegas High Roller observation wheel.

Hugo relocated to Copenhagen in 2013 to develop an academic profile, and joined the Adaptive Environments research group at the IT University. He explored—theoretically and by design—multiple viewpoints on movement of the built environment. His dissertation positions movement as an essential aspect of building cognition, with repercussions for architectural robotics.

Hugo has taught, held lectures, and assisted architects and engineering students at various schools and universities including UCL, The Bartlett, and the Architectural Association in London; ITU and CITA in Copenhagen; The Berlage Institute and TU Delft in The Netherlands; UFC-DAU in Fortaleza; Mackenzie University in São Paulo. He has been part of the organisational team of the Smartgeometry workshops and conferences in Barcelona (2010), Copenhagen (2011), New York (2012), London (2013), and Hong Kong (2014).

Hugo has been invited internationally to speak at professional events such as the Future of Design in London, the Chamber of Architects in Ljubljana, the Feicon and Forum conferences in São Paulo, and IABSE’s Henderson Colloquium in Cambridge. Hugo has also been a moderator for Arup’s Penguin Pool client events.