Mara O Marcu

Mara Marcu is Associate Professor of Architetcure with tenure at University of Cincinnati (DAAP) in the School of Architecture and Interior Design (SAID). Here, she currently coordinates the second semester of the MArch I program, the representation course for the second year undergraduates, advises MArch thesis projects, and teaches graduate studios and seminars in computation and robotics. She co-established the Architectural Robotics Lab at SAID and received the Outstanding Junior Faculty Award in 2017. Echos—book published with Actar in 2018 and edited by her—is the first compendium in the history of the school that documents graduate and undergraduate research at SAID. The book was awarded Top 50 Books and Top 50 Covers in 2018 by the American Institute of Graphic Arts.

Mara graduated magna cum laude from the University of Houston with a Bachelor in Architecture, where she received the Best in Show Design Award for her thesis in 2005. Similarly, she was given the Honor Prize for the same project proposing a new factory typology that prioritizes performative passive cooling methodologies through the use of soft and hardscapes. In 2009 she received her Master in Architecture from Harvard GSD. Her final project was shortlisted for the James Templeton Kelley Prize and proposed a reticular interpretation of traditional MAT-building strategies. Mara was awarded two international scholarships to attend the 2005 Design/Build Ghost Lab with Brian MacKay-Lyons in Nova Scotia-Canada, where she helped build the Shobac Cottages, and the 2010 Master Class in Sydney-Australia with Pritzker Prize Laureate Glenn Murcutt.

Her research work has been published and exhibited widely. Most recently, a project expanding on augmented reality was displayed at the “Time Space Existence” show at Palazzo Bembo, organized with the occasion of the 2018 Venice Biennale. The technological component of her work favors the peculiar and the absurd over the ever changing architectural style. Central to her interests are questions of representation, processes of making and thinking, emergent taxonomies, urbanism, and pedagogy with a penchant for the flawed, the outcast, the oddly gendered, the ludic and the nostalgic. Currently—through her private practice, MMXIII LLC—Marcu works on a cluster of projects documenting and reinterpreting late Eastern European Modernism. Previously Marcu worked for Rafael Vinoly Architects, BKSK, and Ed Mills and Associates in New York City.

A recipient of the 2011 University of Virginia Fellowship, Mara also taught at the American University of Sharjah in the UAE-Dubai area. In addition to teaching, Mara was invited as guest critic at Georgia Institute of Technology, Virginia Tech, The Ohio State University, the Dynamic Fields Workshop with Zaha Hadid Architects in Bucharest-Romania, and Harvard GSD. In 2015, Mara co-chaired the Annual ACADIA Conference in Cincinnati. She also co-curated the “Computational Ecologies” Exhibit at the Reed Gallery in Cincinnati. Marcu joined the ACADIA Board of Directors and IJAC Editorial Board in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Master of Architecture: Harvard University Graduate School of Design Cambridge, MA, 2009 (Design, Theory, Computation, Digital Fabrication)

Bachelor of Architecture: University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture Houston, TX, 2005 (Architecture)

Investigators: Mara Marcu. 02-25-2019 -12-31-2019 UC International Faculty-Led Study Abroad Block Grant. “Free Space/Captive Space” Role:Principal Investigator. $13,000. Active Type:Grant

Investigators: Mara Marcu. 01-01-2019 -01-31-2019 UC International Faculty-Led Study Abroad Mentoring Grant. "United Arab Emirates: Doing Business in the Middle East". Role:Principal Investigator. $3,900. Completed Type:Grant

Investigators: Mara Marcu. 07-01-2018 -07-01-2019 UC DAAP Faculty Development Grant. “Robotic 3D Printing with Soft Rigid Materials”. Role:PI $2,100. Completed Type:Grant

Investigators: Christoph Klemmt, Mara Marcu, Ming Tang. 01-01-2016 -01-01-2017 University of Cincinnati Provost Technology Award. "Architectural Robotics Lab". Role:CO-PI $70,000. Completed Type:Grant

Investigators: Mara Marcu, Ming Tang. 06-01-2016 -06-01-2017 University of Cincinnati Third Century Research Grant for Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. “Curating Artifacts”. Role:Principal Investigator. $10,000. Completed Type:Grant

Investigators: Ming Tang, Mara Marcu. 10-01-2016 -10-30-2016 SOFA CONNECT 2016 Seed Fund. "Curating Artifacts”. Role:CO-PI $1,600. Completed Type:Contract

Investigators: Ed Mitchell, Michael McIntruf, William Williams, Mara Marcu. 01-01-2016 -01-01-2018 Christopher Earls Family Endowment and The Modern Sustenance Research Fund. "Echos". Role:CO-PI $20,000. Completed Type:Contract

Investigators: Stephen Slaughter, Mara Marcu. 10-01-2014 -10-30-2014 SOFA CONNECT 2015 Seed Fund. “The Strange Wall”. Role:CO-PI $1,600. Type:Contract

Investigators: Mara Marcu. 08-01-2014 -08-01-2015 Tri-state Masonry Foundation Grant. “The Strange Wall”. Role:Principal Investigator. $10,000. Completed Type:Grant

Investigators: Mara Marcu. 10-01-2014 -10-30-2014 UC DAAP Faculty Development Grant. "Acadia 2014: Design Agency". Role:Principal Investigator. $1,600. Completed Type:Grant

Peer Reviewed Publications

Ming Tang, Mara Marcu (2015. ) Data Mapping and Ornament .The 2015 ACADIA Computational Ecologies, Design in the Anthropocene Paper Proceedings, , 111 --121

Mara Marcu (2015. ) Dendritic Malformation: A Case Study on Adaptable Tectonic Systems .International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics, , 10 (1 ) ,40 --49

Mara Marcu, Ming Tang (2015. ) The Strange Wall .The 2015 ACADIA Computational Ecologies, Design in the Anthropocene Project Proceedings, , 190 --193

Ming Tang, Mara Marcu (2015. ) Transmutated Tectonics .The 2015 ACADIA Computational Ecologies, Design in the Anthropocene Project Proceedings, , 164 --167

Mara Marcu (2015. ) Zoomable World/Misbehaved Tectonics .The 2015 National Conference on the Beginning Design Student Proceedings, , 361 --368

Mara Marcu (2013. ) Sambo’ _[Reconfigured . ACADIA 2013 Adaptive Architecture Proceedings, , 1 (1 ) ,423 --424

Mara Marcu, Ming Tang (2016. ) The Strange Loop .Shaping New Knowledges: The 104th Annual Meeting 2016 Project Proceedings, ,

Mara Marcu, Ming Tang, Han Shen, Matt Brubaker, Adam Schueler (2018. ) “Optical Illusions of Volume: Simulation-based form finding and fabrication” .ACSA 2018 The Ethical Imperative Paper Proceedings, ,

Mara Marcu, Ming Tang, Adam Schueler (2018. ) Augmented Bubbles .ACSA 2018 The Ethical Imperative Project Proceedings., ,

Mara Marcu (2018. ) Breaking Ground: Ungendering Design. The 2018 National Conference on the Beginning Design Student Proceedings., ,

Mara Marcu (2018. ) Building From Within/Building From Without .The 2018 National Conference on the Beginning Design Student Proceedings, ,

Mara Marcu, Ming Tang, Han Shen, Matt Brubaker (2018. ) “MO.MO.” (Deferred Acceptance due to scheduling conflicts with the Venice Biennale Data & Matter Exhibition.) .2018 CAADRIA Project Proceedings. , ,

Ming Tang, Mara Marcu (2017. ) Augmented Coral .ACADIA 2017 Disciplines Disruption Projects Catalog, , 1 (1 ) ,

Other Publications

Clayton, Mark; Daas, Mahesh; Gerber, David J.; Jabi, Wassim; Marcu, Mara; Parlac, Vera; Vasey, Lauren; Wit, Andrew John, ed. (2018. ) Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in Architecture: Autonomy, Agency and Indeterminacy .The International Journal of Architectural Computing, 16 (4 ) , Sage Publishers

Published Books

Mara Marcu (2018. ) ECHOS . New York , Actar (Editor)

ECHOS

Book Chapter

Mara Marcu (2013 ) InterDependent Modulation Ghazal Abbasy Asbagh .(pp. 129-136)).Barcelona, Spain, Actar (Author)

Mara Marcu (2013 ) Sambo’ _[Reconfigured LUNCH 8: Future for Sites Unknown .(pp. 86-91)).Richmond, VA, Carter Printing (Author)

Mara Marcu (2018 ) “Building from Within/Building from Without”, “Zoomable World/Misbehaved Tectonics II”, “Optical Illusions of Volume”, “The Strange Wall”, “PseudoVertical!”, “SOM Interiors” (An Interview with Jaime Velez) ECHOS .(pp. 6-21, 22, 90, 172, 238, 308, 402)).New York, Actar (Author)

Mara Marcu; Ming Tang; Adam Schueler . (2020 ) BUBBLEgum Data & Matter: Venice 2018 .

Mara Marcu (2020 ) Discussing What’s in the Air Design Now: Happenings on the Front Lines of Pedagogy and Practice .United Kingdom, Intellect Press (Author)

Electronic Journal

Ming Tang, Mara Marcu (2016. ) Physics Simulation and Form Seeking in Architectural Design Education .International Journal of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction, 4 (4 ) ,

Poster Presentations

Mara Marcu (2014. ) (In Press. ) Sambo’ _[Reconfigured .ACSA 2014 Globalizing Annual Conference, MIami, FL. . Conference. . Level:National

Mara Marcu (2013. ) (In Press. ) Sambo’ _[Reconfigured .ACADIA 2013, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. . Conference. . Level:International

ACADIA 2013

Mara Marcu, Ming Tang (2016. ) The Strange Loop .ACSA 2016 Annual Meeting, Seattle. .

Mara Marcu, Ming Tang (2017. ) (In Press. ) Augmented Coral .ACADIA 2017 Disciplines Disruption, MIT Media Lab. . Conference. . Level:International

Mara Marcu, Ming Tang, Adam Schueler (2018. ) (In Press. ) Augmented Bubbles .ACSA 2018 Annual Conference, Denver, CO. . Conference. . Level:National

Lecture

Marcu, Mara (2011. ) Sambo’: A Collection of Curiosities .University of Virginia, School of Architecture, Charlottesville, VA. Other Institution. Level:National

Marcu, Mara (2011. ) The Architecture of Glenn Murcutt .University of Houston, Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, Houston, TX. Other Institution. Level:Regional

Marcu, Mara (2011. ) Pecha-Kucha: “Parametricism .University of Houston, Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, Houston, TX.

Marcu, Mara (2012. ) Sambo’ _[Reconfigured .University of Virginia, School of Architecture, Charlottesville, VA. Other Institution. Level:Regional

Marcu, Mara (02-13-2013. ) Sambo’ .University of Cincinnati, DAAP. UC. Level:Regional

Paper Presentations

Ming Tang, Mara Marcu (2015. ) Data Mapping and Ornament .CINCINNATI, OH. Conference. Level:International

ACADIA 2015

Mara Marcu (2014. ) Dendritic Malformation .Opatija, Croatia. Conference. Level:International

Design and Nature WIT

Mara Marcu (2015. ) Zoomable World/Misbehaved Tectonics .Houston, TX. Conference. Level:National

Mara Marcu, Ming Tang, Han Shen, Matt Brubaker, Adam Schueler (2018. ) Optical Illusions of Volume: Simulation-Based Form Finding and Fabrication .Denver, CO. Conference. Level:National

Mara Marcu (2018. ) Building from Within/Building from Without .Cincinnati. Conference. Level:National

Mara Marcu (2018. ) Gendered Form/Ungendered Function .Cincinnati. Conference. Level:National

Event Organized

ACADIA 2015 Conference 10-19-2015 10-25-2015 Cincinnati, OH Level:International

ACADIA 2015

2005 Ghost Lab 7 with Brian MacKay-Lyons, Design/ Build Internship. For more information please visit: http://mlsarchitects.ca/ghost7.htm, Ghost Laboratory / MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, , Halifax, Nova Scotia - Canada

2010 Glenn Murcutt International Master Class 2010, Glenn Murcutt International Master Class, , Riversdale, Australia

PseudoVertical! Level:Both

PseudoVertical!

Zoomable World/Misbehaved Tectonics Level:Undergraduate

Zoomable World/Misbehaved Tectonics

Building from Within/ Building from Without Level:Undergraduate

Building from Within/ Building from Without

Optical Illusions of Volume Level:Both

Optical Illusions of Volume: Bubbles

College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP)/School of Architecture and Interior Design (SAID) - 8280D
Phone: (513) 556-5733
mara.marcu@uc.edu