Projekte

Project information

submitted by
Dominik Reisach

Mentors
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sven Schneider, Prof. Dr. Jan Willmann, Vertr.-Prof. Stephan Schütz

Degree programme:
Architektur (Master of Science (M.Sc.))

Contributors:
Rettenmeier Holzindustrie Hirschberg GmbH (Spende von ca. 2 m³ Holz in Form von Kappstücken)

Project description

This master's thesis presents a method for upcycling and designing low-engineered free-form timber structures using offcuts—a waste material from industrial timber production. Of particular importance is the development of an integral design-to-fabrication workflow, including all steps from digitizing offcuts to their robotic assembly, and, ultimately, closing the digital chain. The process is streamlined to minimize material waste and facilitate the design and buildup of offcut material into structural configurations as well as the dis- and reassembly of elements. The resulting timber morphologies allow for a convergence of distinct aesthetic and structural capabilities, enabling a differentiated aggregation of material under digital guidance, and featuring high geometrical flexibility and minimal material waste. As such, this paper considers (1) a computational design process to optimally place, align, and orient timber offcuts, including their joinery; (2) the transfer of design data into a robotic fabrication process, featuring automatic milling and assembly; and (3) the architectural implications of integrating these findings into a systemic, unifying design-to-fabrication workflow. Building a full-scale Offcut Pavilion, this projects proved the feasibility of the proposed method under real-world conditions.