Ilmar Hurkxkens is Head of the Geographic Design cluster at Boskalis, Lecturer in the Section of Landscape Architecture, Department of Urbanism at Delft University of Technology, and co-founder of LANDSKIP, a laboratory dedicated to exploring new technologies for landscape transformation. His work focuses on natural granular materials and how they can shape landscapes through design, using remote surveying, computational modeling, and robotic fabrication techniques. He graduated in architecture with distinction from Delft University of Technology and went on to work at the Chair of Landscape Architecture of Professor Christophe Girot and Gramazio Kohler Research at ETH Zurich. His research has been widely recognized. He received the Scientific Merit Award (2023) and the Scientific Excellence Award (2021) from the Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture, and was nominated for the ETH Medal (2020) for his doctoral dissertation “Robotic Landscapes: Topological Approaches to Terrain, Design, and Fabrication.” Part of his dissertation is published as “Robotic Landscapes: Designing the Unfinished” (Park Books, 2022).

ALL
DESIGN RESEARCH
PUBLICATIONS
LECTURES
EXHIBITIONS
AWARDS

Toward a Time-Critical Design Approach

November 2025 BOOK CHAPTER
In: Media Matters in Landscape Architecture
Edited by Karen M’Closkey, Keith VanDerSys

Earthworks

February 2025 TALK
Ilmar Hurkxkens & Philip Ursprung
Chair for Architecture and Design, Professorship Mosayebi, ETH Zurich
https://mosayebi.arch.ethz.ch/en/news

Learning Machines for an AI Powered Landscape

December 2024 ESSAY Ilmar Hurkxkens, Powered by AI in ‘scape magazine, issue 2/2024
https://www.scapemagazine.com/scape224/

Waiting for Landscape Architecture—Bridging Design and Continuous Adaptation

December 2024 PUBLIC LECTURE
School of Architecture, Carnegie Mellon University
https://www.architecture.cmu.edu/events/ilmar-hurkxkens-lecture

Alpine Temper

Oktober 2024 LECTURE
Fundamental Course “Materials and Construction I”
Master of Science in Landscape Architecture (MScLA) ETH Zurich
Fundamental Courses – Master in Landscape Architecture | ETH Zurich

Nomination Public & Landscape Architecture of the Year 2024

February 2024 NOMINATION
Arch Daily Building of the Year 2024 Award
Circularity Park / Gramazio Kohler Research + Robotic Systems Lab + Chair of Landscape Architecture, ETH Zürich
https://www.archdaily.com/1010430

Circular Robotic Construction

January 2024 BOOK CHAPTER
Lauren Vasey, Petrus Aejmelaeus-Lindström, David Jenny, Ryan Luke Johns, Ilmar Hurkxkens, Coralie Ming, Marco Hutter, Fabio Gramazio, Matthias Kohler
In: A Circular Built Environment in the Digital Age
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39675-5_9

Circularity Park

November 2023 DESIGN RESEARCH
Gramazio Kohler Research + Robotic Systems Lab + Chair of Landscape Architecture
Oberglatt, Switzerland
Circularity Park full credits

LA Talks

November 2023 TALK
Ilmar Hurkxkens, Janneke van Bergen
Section of Landscape Architecture, TU Delft
https://landscapearchitecturetudelft.nl/la-talks-1-8th-of-november-2023/

A framework for robotic excavation and dry stone construction using on-site materials

November 2023 PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLE
Johns, Ryan Luke, Martin Wermelinger, Ruben Mascaro, Dominic Jud, Ilmar Hurkxkens, Lauren Vasey, Margarita Chli, Fabio Gramazio, Matthias Kohler, and Marco Hutter
Science Robotics 8, no. 84
https://doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.abp9758

Steidl Lecture

September 2023 ENDOWED LECTURE
John Elliot Center for Architecture and Environmental Design, Kent State University
https://www.kentcaedlectureseries.com/fall2023-caedlectures/ilmarhurkxkens

Dynamic Landscapes

May 2023 ARTICLE
Terrain Voque: Pamphlet 27
Professur für Landschaftsarchitektur Christophe Girot, ed. Annemarie Bucher et al.
https://verlag.gta.arch.ethz.ch/en/gta:book_201e678b-b6ba-454a-b1b2-e7862d548970

Scientific Merit Award

May 2023 AWARD
James Melsom, Ilmar Hurkxkens
By the Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture for the article
“Eroding Terrains: Developing Computational Design Tools for Interactive Site Erosion”

Eroding Terrains: Developing Computational Design Tools for Interactive Site Erosion

May 2023 PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLE
James Melsom, Ilmar Hurkxkens
In: JoDLA. Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture
doi:10.14627/537740030

Far from Firm: Soil Driven Design and Construction

March 2023 LECTURE
Master of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building
University of Sydney UTS

Terrain Moves: Dynamic Design and Robotic Construction in Landscape Architecture

February 2023 LECTURE
ESALA Landscape Seminar Series, Edinburgh College of Art (ECA), The University of Edinburgh
Landscape Seminar Series: Ilmar Hurkxkens | Edinburgh College of Art

Ground-Bound: Dike Topotypes from the Netherlands

September 2022 LECTURE
The Berlage Center for Advanced Studies in Architecture and Urban Design, Delft University of Technology

Project Global: Ground

Spring 2022 POST-MASTER DESIGN RESEARCH STUDIO
Tutors: FIlip Geerts, Sanne van den Breemer, Ilmar Hurkxkens
The Berlage Center for Advanced Studies in Architecture and Urban Design, Delft University of Technology
Project Global - The Berlage

Designing the Unfinished: Integrating Landscape Models of Information, Design, and Fabrication

February 2022 PUBLIC LECTURE
Symposium “Instruments of Change“
Weizman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania
Events - EMLab

Of Crystals and Clouds

January 2022 JOURNAL ARTICLE
In: OASE 110: The Project of the Soil / De grond van de kwestie
https://www.oasejournal.nl/en/Issues/110

Robotic Landscapes—Designing the Unfinished

January 2022 BOOK
Ilmar Hurkxkens, Fujan Fahmi, Ammar Mirjan (eds)
Published by Park Books in Zurich
ORDER HERE

Dynamic Design and Production for Dynamic Environments

January 2022 LECTURE
Master of Advanced Studies in Architecture and Digital Fabrication, ETH Zurich
http://www.masdfab.com/news

Paysages robotisés: vers un nouvel équilibre

December 2021 JOURNAL ARTICLE
Ilmar Hurkxkens
In: Interface 34. Dimensions Immatérelles. Revue éditée par la FAI. Dec.21
https://www.fai-ge.ch/interface

ROBOTIC LANDSCAPES—Examples from the Design Research Studios

November 2021 LECTURE
With Jésus Medina from Gramazio Kohler Research, given at Architecture and Urban Design, UCLA

Dynamic Landscape Topologies

September 2021 LECTURE
Seminar Course Landscape Architecture at the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University

Robotic embankment: Free-form autonomous formation in terrain with HEAP

June 2021 JOURNAL ARTICLE
Dominic Jud, Ilmar Hurkxkens, Christophe Girot, Marco Hutter
In: Construction Robotics
doi.org/10.1007/s41693-021-00061-0

Scientific Excellence Award

May 2021 AWARD
Ilmar Hurkxkens, Dave Pigram, and James Melsom
By the Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture for the article
“Shifting Sands: Experimental Robotic Earth-Moving Strategies in Dynamic Coastal Environments”

Shifting Sands: Experimental Robotic Earth-Moving Strategies in Dynamic Coastal Environments

May 2021 PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLE
Ilmar Hurkxkens, Dave Pigram, and James Melsom
In: JoDLA. Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture
doi:10.14627/537705003

Robotic Topologies

March 2021 LECTURE
Department of Architecture, Aalto University

Modellare l’alveo dei torrenti di montagna - L’esempio del fiume Gürbe

March 2021 ARTICLE
Ilmar Hurkxkens, Fujan Fahmi, and Christophe Girot
In: Paesaggi Tecnologici (Archi 1-2021)
https://www.espazium.ch/it/attualita/modellare-lalveo-dei-torrenti-di-montagna

Dynamic Terrain Modeling

February 2021 WORKSHOP
Ilmar Hurkxkens
MA/MLA Landscape Architecture, Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL

Dynamic Design for Dynamic Environments

February 2021 LECTURE
Master of Advanced Studies in Architecture and Digital Fabrication, ETH Zurich

ETH Medal Nomination

September 2020
Nominated for the Silver Medal of the ETH Zurich for outstanding doctoral theses
“Robotic Landscapes: Topological Approaches to Terrain, Design, and Fabrication”

Robotic Landscapes: Topological Approaches to Terrain, Design, and Fabrication

September 2020 DISSERTATION
NCCR Digital Fabrication ETH Zurich, on the recommendation of:
Prof. Christophe Girot (Supervisor)
Prof. Marco Hutter (Co-Supervisor)
Prof. Matthias Kohler (Co-Supervisor)
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000451100

Robotic Embankment Prototype

July 2020 RESEARCH DEMONSTRATOR
Ilmar Hurkxkens, Dominic Jud, Marco Hutter, Christophe Girot
Chair of Landscape Architecture, Prof. Christophe Girot, ETH Zurich
Robotic Systems Lab, Prof. Marco Hutter, ETH Zurich
NCCR Digital Fabrication, ETH Zurich

Informing Topology: Performative Landscapes with Rapid Mass Movement Simulation

June 2020 PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLE
Ilmar Hurkxkens, Benedikt Kowalewski, and Christophe Girot
In: JoDLA. Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture
https://doi.org/10.14627/537690014

Shifting Sands: Designing Robotic Formation Processes for Dynamic Beach Nourishment

February 2020 MASTERCLASS
Ilmar Hurkxkens with Dave Pigram and James Melsom
School of Architecture, University of Technology Sydney
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8fGHgkFAIS/

Terrain between Form and Process

February 2020 PUBLIC LECTURE
Landscape & Technology Short Talks, School of Architecture, University of Technology Sydney

Robotic Landscapes III

September–December 2019 MASTER LEVEL DESIGN STUDIO
Instructors: Ilmar Hurkxkens (lead), Fujan Fahmi, Benedikt Kowalewski, Jesús Medina
Chair of Landscape Architecture, Prof. Christophe Girot, ETH Zurich
Gramazio Kohler Research, Chair of Architecture and Digital Fabrication, ETH Zurich

Digital Terrain

November 2019 LECTURE
Department of Landscape Architecture, GSD, Harvard University

Docofossor: Computational Terrain Modelling for Rhino Grasshopper

Oktober 2019 SOFTWARE
Ilmar Hurkxkens and Matthias Bernhard
https://www.food4rhino.com/app/docofossor

Designing Formation Processes for Large Scale Autonomous Earth Moving

September 2019 PEER REVIEWED PAPER
Ilmar Hurkxkens, Ammar Mirjan, Fabio Gramazio, Mathias Kohler, and Christophe Girot
In: Proceedings of Design Modelling Symposium Berlin. Impact: Design With All Senses
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29829-6_6

Robotic Landscapes: Forming Terrain with Granular Material

April 2019 PUBLIC LECTURE
The Berlage Center for Advanced Studies in Architecture and Urban Design, TU Delft
The Berlage Events

Computational Terrain Modeling with Distance Functions for Large Scale Landscape Design

April 2019 PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLE
Ilmar Hurkxkens and Matthias Bernhard
In: JoDLA. Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture
https://doi.org/10.14627/537663024

Robotic Landscapes II

September–December 2018 MASTER DESIGN STUDIO
Instructors: Ilmar Hurkxkens (lead), Fujan Fahmi, Benedikt Kowalewski, Ammar Mirjan, Jesús Medina
Chair of Landscape Architecture, Prof. Christophe Girot, ETH Zurich
Gramazio Kohler Research, Chair of Architecture and Digital Fabrication, ETH Zurich

Field Instruments of Design

November 2018 PUBLIC LECTURE
International Symposium Scaffolds: Open Encounters with Society, Art & Architecture, Brussels
https://archiveweb.epfl.ch/scaffolds2018.epfl.ch/index.html

Digital Culture Work Grant

Oktober 2018
Fabian Bircher and Ilmar Hurkxkens
Migros-Kulturprozent for the promotion of digital media art
https://www.digitalbrainstorming.ch/de/program/wbdkvergabe2018

Nature, Computation, and the Design Space of Autonomous Terrain Modeling

June 2018 JOURNAL ARTICLE
Christophe Girot and Ilmar Hurkxkens
In: Landscape Architecture Frontiers
https://doi.org/10.15302/J-LAF-20180208

Robotic Landscapes

Arpil 2018 LECTURE
Department of Architecture, UC Berkeley

Robotic Landscapes I

September–December 2017 DESIGN STUDIO
Instructors: Ilmar Hurkxkens (lead), Fujan Fahmi, Ammar Mirjan
Chair of Landscape Architecture, Prof. Christophe Girot, ETH Zurich
Gramazio Kohler Research, Chair of Architecture and Digital Fabrication, ETH Zurich

Onsite Analysis: Developing a Flexible Software Field-Kit for Landscape Architecture and Spatial Design

June 2017 PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLE
James Melsom, Luis Fraguada, and Ilmar Hurkxkens
In: JoDLA Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture
https://doi.org/10.14627/537629027

Revealing Material of Design

April 2017 PUBLIC LECTURE
Landscapes of Reuse Symposium, School of Architecture, Syracuse University, Florence

Developing Computational Design Tools Towards Autonomous Terrain Modeling

November 2017 PEER REVIEWED PAPER
Ilmar Hurkxkens, Christophe Girot and Marco Hutter
In: Proceedings of ACADIA: Disciplines & Disruption
http://papers.cumincad.org/cgi-bin/works/Show?acadia17_292

Flash Floods and Desert Claims

November 2016 JOURNAL ARTICLE
Ilmar Hurkxkens
In: Landscape Architecture Frontiers
http://journal.hep.com.cn/laf/EN/Y2016/V4/I5/131

The impossible View of the Saint Gotthard: Surveying, Modeling and Visualizing Alpine Landscapes

2016 BOOK CHAPTER
Christophe Girot, Ilmar Hurkxkens, James Melsom, and Pascal Werner
In: Der Gotthard / Il Gottardo: Landscape – Myths – Technology
https://www.research-collection.ethz.ch/handle/20.500.11850/121465

Mount Sigirino

2009-2015 PROJECT
Atelier Girot, with AplTransit, ITC, IFEC
http://www.girot.ch/?project=alptransit-depot-sigirino-canton-ticino

Field Instruments of Design

December 2015 BOOK
Christophe Girot and Ilmar Hurkxkens (eds)
ISBN 978-3-85676-336-7

Instruments of Design: On Surveying and Designing Site-Specific Material

December 2015 BOOK CHAPTER
Ilmar Hurkxkens
In: Field Instruments of Design, Pamphlet 19
https://girot.arch.ethz.ch/series-publications/pamphlet-series/pamphlet-19-field-instruments-of-design

Inherent Wild

November 2015 BOOK
Ilmar Hurkxkens and Nils Havelka
https://issuu.com/havelkaverlag/docs/inherent_wild_hv_fe446f18f6b807

Directed Deposition: Exploring the Roles of Simulation and Design in Erosion and Landslide Processes

Oktober 2015 PEER REVIEWED PAPER
James Melsom, Christophe Girot, and Ilmar Hurkxkens
In: Proceedings of ACADIA: Computational Ecologies: Design in the Anthropocene
http://papers.cumincad.org/cgi-bin/works/paper/acadia15_211

Speculative Precision: Combining Haptic Terrain Modelling with Real-Time Digital Analysis for Landscape Design

May 2014 PEER REVIEWED PAPER
Ilmar Hurkxkens and Georg Munkel
In: Proceedings of the Digital Landscape Architecture Conference (DLA)
Gispoint

Forming a Landscape

Oktober 2013 WORKSHOP
Ilmar Hurkxkens and Georg Munkel
https://girot.arch.ethz.ch/

Young Researcher Award

June 2013 AWARD International Conference “Thinking the Contemporary Landscape”
Volkswagen Foundation & ETH Zurich, Herrenhausen, Germany

Procedural Landscapes

2011 ELECTIVE COURSE
Gramazio Kohler Research in cooperation with the Chair of Landscape Architecture, Professor Girot, ETH Zurich and Yael Girot
Collaborators: Michael Knauß (project lead), Ralph Bärtschi, Ilmar Hurkxkens, and Dominik Weber
https://gramaziokohler.arch.ethz.ch/web/e/lehre/208.html

Scales of Topology in Landscape Architecture

August 2011 ARTICLE
Christophe Girot, Ilmar Hurkxkens, Alexandre Kapellos, James Melsom, Pascal Werner
In: New Geographies 4: Scales of the Earth
https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9781934510278

Winning entry for Standpunkte Magazin 3

2010 AWARD
Publication: “DAM: Architectural considerations on the modification of territory”
Verlag Standpunkte, Basel (forthcoming)
http://www.standpunkte.org/site/de/home.php

Archiprix nomination for the best Dutch graduation projects in architecture

2010 AWARD
ARCHIPRIX, Rotterdam
https://www.archiprix.nl/national/

Honourable mention for the Master of Science graduation project “Paradise Regained”

2010 AWARD
Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

Paradise Regained: The watchman, the sleeper, the dreamer, and the city

(The Hondsbossche Zeewering at Petten Architecturally Reconsidered)
June 2010 ARTICLE
Ilmar Hurkxkens
In: OverHolland 9
https://doi.org/10.7480/overholland.2010.9.1634