Axel Prichard-Schmitzberger, assistant professor for architecture at the California Polytechnic University is running a very ambitious studio where his students scrutinize design strategies employing innovative software such as Generative Components and environmental simulation software such as Ecotect. Some of his students are computer debutants, and keeping this in mind you can state that this studio has pushed them far forward in terms of architectural design techniques. Thursday afternoon Sandra Manninger and Matias del Campo joined  the panel of critics for this semesters final review, the students task was to use the learned tools for the design of a condominium in Palm Springs. The environmental simulation software came in handy, in order to explore the various climatic conditions on the site, so that they could be used as form generating parameters  for the project. The various approaches reached from the use of wind-directions to create patterns of volume on the specific site, the use of hexagonal cells in various scales that formed into cooling channels criss-crossing the site, to more rigid approaches like the use of the checkerboard formed land-division system. Actually this approach generated some interesting results, as it could be seen as a pixelated spatial condition. Among the critics were also Michael Fox and Juintow Lin, the heads of Foxlin who designed the installation Bubbles, which is on show right now at Materials & Applications in Silverlake. Something really nice about this review was the cozy environment created by two huge, soft sofas. In conclusion: congratulations to Axel Prichard-Schmitzberger for his effort and the impressive progress his students made within his studio.