Dr. Martin Bechthold

Biography

Martin Bechthold is a professor in Architectural Technology at Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) and currently serves as the Academic Dean heading the Advanced Studies Programs. He is the founding Co-Director of the Master of Design Engineering Program and is also an affiliate faculty at the Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) at Harvard. His teaching focuses on design research methods, material systems, and building structures, with recent courses including 'Towards New Science Design?', 'Nano, Micro, Macro: BioFabrication', and 'Structural Design II'. Bechthold received his Diplom-Ingenieur degree in architecture from Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Germany, and a Doctor of Design degree from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard. He has practiced architecture in various locations including London, Paris, and Hamburg, and has worked with firms like Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Santiago Calatrava. In 2010, he established GSD's Design Robotics Group, which merged with the Material Processes Systems (MaP+S) Group in 2014. His research currently focuses on low carbon material systems and architectural ceramics. As a prominent figure in design technology, Bechthold has co-authored and authored numerous publications, including peer-reviewed journal papers and books on material innovations.

Research Interests