TIMBER
T imber
S16
TIMBER
A BO U T T H E S T U DIO 4
Timber: Augmented Wood Construction forefronts the need for resourcefulness in contemporary architectural practice. The course positions a renewed interest in wood construction (an ecologically sane material appropriate for many building types) relative to emerging technologies in robotically assisted fabrication. As designers recoup this traditional building material, emerging digital technologies are poised to re-frame the what, why, and how of timber construction. In particular the course will investigate robotic steam bending, where a robot’s ability to shape custom framing members and assemble unique parts, is leveraged to construct complex material arrays. Labs, Lectures, and design projects will emphasize tactile investigation, building at one to one, and introduce the fundamentals of robotic motion and tooling protocol. Contemporary architectural design is in a constant state of techno-tux. The means and methods of contemporary architectural production face mounting ecological imperatives. Dexterity: perhaps the architect’s most valuable resource.
The use of natural material always entails reckoning with irregularities. Imperfection forces a loss of control (on the part of the designer) that standardized industrial building materials tend to eradicate Timber asks students to consider material imperfection as an inherent and generative part of the design process. Tectonics: This studio biases the careful articulation of the architectural frame. Here the frame conditions space, encourages structural performance, and articulates the part(s) to the whole through considered detailing. Deformation: Steam bending natural hardwoods produces complex forms without wasteful subtraction of material or the addition of toxic adhesives. The technique also suggests exciting architectural possibilities for large span structures through bending active systems.
48- 410 Timber in the City instructed by Joshua Bard
STU D ENTS Nouf Aljowaysir Aileena Gray Ara Lee Cy Kim Dyani Robarge Kendra Ho Kirk Newton Nicolas Gomez Noopur Suckhlecha Quresh Tyebji Shannon Earnest
5
TA B LE O F CO N T E N T S
A BO U T T H E S T U DIO
6
01
M AT E R I A L R E SO U RCE
02
M AT E R I A L SYS T E M S
03
M AT E R I A L SYS T E M S
04
T ECH N O FUTURES BI B L IO G R A PH Y
4 9 17 33 45 41 7
8
01
M AT E R I A L R E SO U RCE Wood has proven itself to be a timeless natural resource. A resource that is in fact renewable. Historically unhealthy deforestation has issued a level of taboo on the overuse and frequency of timber construction, but newer technologies and a better understanding of wood’s properties have begun to scale a more appropriate use of wood as a building material. By understanding how and why a tree produces the type of timber it does helps larger producers create a more healthy and optimal environment to grow the type of lumber that has the structural integrity desired as a building material resource.
9
G LUE SP RE ADER
LV L MANU FACTU R I NG
LOG IN ROTAR ARY PEEL L ATHE
ULTR A SOUN D G R ADER
ROTARY CUT T ING OF V ENEER M E A SURIN G
PLY W O O D M ANU FACTU R I NG D EB ARK IN G
SCARF J OINT ING
F RO M FO R E S T TO FAC TO RY
S AW IN G & S AN DIN G
10
GR ADIN G ED GE SE ALIN G
There are several processes when it comes to manufacturing different types of wood. LVL is manufactured by laminating wood veneer (typically 3mm thick), using phenolic
PACK AGIN G
adhesive, in a continuous process. Plywood is manufactured from thin layers of wood veneer glued adjacently together. It is very easy to work with and highly durable.
PRESS
RIP S AW
C RE ATE L AYE RS
BON DIN G
DRYI NG
PRES SIN G
SO R T I NG
M ACHIN IN G
PATCH I N G
JOINT I NG
COAT I NG
11
F RO M S E E D TO FO R E S T
MA N - M A D E FO RE STS
12
Forests are created progressively over time. First to inhabit the barren land are the lowly lichens. Slowly, the acids produced by these organisms pit the rock surface, plant debris accumulates, and mosses establish a shallow roothold. Ferns may follow and, with short grasses and shrubs, gradually become a layer of plant life. Roots probe even deeper into the maturing soil and eventually larger shrubs give way to the first trees. They grow quickly, and establish domination by cutting off sunlight from the smaller plants by closing their ranks and forming a climax community. For as long as it stands, the forest is a vast energy storing machine and the various essential elements for life. Carbon products are stored in the wood of the tree and in forest-floor litter; the water-balance is maintained by rain and snowfall. It is held in the tree’s tissues and in the soil, while a vast store of min-
eral nutrient’s derived from the soil is held in the leaves, only to be restored to the soil as the leaves fall and decay in the annual cycle of regeneration. With the ever growing demand for timber and wood based products, man-made forests emerged. Fundamental to the planning of manmade forests is the concept of "sustained yield". It is assumed that the market to be met - a sawmill, paper-mill or general demand from local timber-users - is constant, or expanding steadily. Output of the forest must match the demand, both present and future, within the limits of the natural cycle of the timber crop. In the simplest terms, this means that if the trees take fifty years to mature, one fiftieth part of the forest should be chopped each year and a like proportion replanted.
Natural Forest Solar energy is utilized in the chemical factory of the leaves to produce new plant material - a form of stored energy. As the plant material dies its stored energy is taken up in the form of dissolved nutrients
STORED ENERGY I N LE AVE S
Clear-Cutting Method To guarantee sustained yield, the forest is divided into blocks, cleared in strict rotation so that after 50 years, it will contain stands of all ages
Seed-Tree Method Where trees grow readily from self-sown seeds, the area may be cut and properly spaced seed-trees left standing. No opportunity to produce new strains
Single-Tree Method Selected trees of all sizes, from all parts of the forest, are chopped, hauled out and graded for end-use by size and quality. The harvesting costs are high but forest and soil are well protected
13
N E W YOR K FO RE STS
CA S E S T U DY
New York is 63% forest cover. Since the late 1880s, the area of forests has been increasing when agricultural land was discarded for more fertile lands in the mid-west. Of the 19 million forested acres in New York, nearly 16 million acres are considered timberland. This means that these lands are able to yield timber crops and are not classified as a reserved forest where timber harvesting is not permitted.
14
Data from the USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis shows that there was a small increase in forestland area from 2007 to 2012 of 47,512 acres. Longer term forest trend data shows that forest acreage has been steadily increasing since 1946 and likely since the 1880s. In 1946, New York forests covered approximately 13,500,000 acres. Forest acreage has been relatively stable over the last 35 years.
While wood energy gain increased attention at the national level in the last decade, New York has a long history of using wood for thermal and electric energy generation. Many New York homes use wood as a main or supplemental form of heating, and community-scale biomass applications such as heating schools and other municipal buildings with wood boilers. Timber harvested in New York does not all stay to be processed within the state. In addition, timber processed in New York is not harvested exclusively in New York. Wood flows into and out of New York are based on many factors including travel routes, proximity to markets, backhauls, and business relationships... etc.
NY T I M BE RL AND OW N E RSH I P FEDER AL 1%
LOCAL 3% STAT E 7%
BUSIN ES S 31%
FAMILY 5 8%
NY FO REST T YP ES OT H ER 8% ELM /A SH 8%
OAK 19%
RED PIN E 6% BIRCH 3 % SPRUCE/F IR 3%
NORT H ERN H ARDWOOD 5 3%
TO/ FROM CA NA DA 132
TO /FR O M NY 10
61
181
ME A SURED I N 1,000 CO RD S
15
16
02
M AT E R I A L CU LT U R E The culture around timber has changed throughout time and region. It has the longest history of any construction material, and has the largest diversity from country to country. Some treat wood as a lower classes housing material, while others exclusively use it for religious buildings, monuments, and civic centers. It has been used in braced frames, domes, truss systems, space frames, tension systems and post and beam construction. Timber construction is a versatile material that is affected by a countries style, climate, belief system, and forest. This chapter has split up the culture of timber by its history throughout time, and use of construction by region. It then looks at examples that employ a variety of wood technologies in contemporary architecture.
17
MC4
T IM B E R CU LT U R E OV E R T I M E
C r e a t io n o f ‘h o us e’ us in g s t r a w
18
Sh elters made of tr e e s and branc he s B o w c ons tru c te d: le ar nt b endi ng of wood
U s e o f f ir e t o c h ar end of posts
Developm e nt o f c u t t i ng t o ols
B uilt w o o d e n b o ard and she e t s W o o d e n shi ng le s inve nt e d
I nve nt io n o f shi p b uild i ng S wit c h o f w o o d t o m ar ble & st o ne C ut wo o d joi nt s and h ole s
M C1 MC3 MC2
M C 11
M C6
MC8
T he B arley B arn,Es s ex 1150 ge ometric pri nc i ple s i n wo o d c ons t. l ap joi nts
Th e Vih ar n Le i K h am o f W ar Phra Th a il an d ,13 4 5 Ar c h e d s p an d r el p an els
M C 15
La Ma is o n K am m er zell Fr an c e, 15 89 t im b er fr am e fa c a d e
MC13
G yg e r H o us e S wit ze r l an d 169 8 wo o d c ar v in g o r n am ent a t io n
W H o t el Sy d ne y, 1 910 arc he d w o o d e n c o nv e y e r b elt
Ro und B arn H an co c k , 18 2 6 Ma s s a c hu ss e t s c e nt r al w o o d e n fr am e , o c t a g o n al c u p ol a
[MC16],[MC17 ]
To d aij i Temple J ap an , 74 5 l ar g e st wood build in g
MC5
To wer of Hop p ers t ad c hu rc h Norway, 1130 wo o den frame c ons t. le arnt b endi ng of wo o d
Brygge n a tB ergen 14th cent ur y L i ne ar b uildi ngs wit h gable e n d s
MC9 M C7
Fo r bid d e n C it y H all o f H ar m o ny C h in a 16 6 0 c olum n an d b e am s t r uc t ur e
M C 10
Th eC ap o n H o us e 16 83 Ma s s a c h us s et s wo o d c ult ur e m ig r a t io n fr o m Eur o p e
M C 12
T he G am ble House Pa s a d e na , 1 9 0 8 J ap ane s e i n spi ra t io n art s & c raf t s m o v m nt .
MC14
19
NORTH A MERICA
WOO D CU LT U R E
R EG IO NAL DI FFE RE N CE S
20
The world has been using timber to create buildings and structures for hundreds of years. Through the different climates, resources, forests, and tree types; its not surprising that the style of timber structures has changed from region to region. Wood was the first true material that made up the ‘house’. It has been used to allow ventilation, to build over water, to keep out the freezing winters, and to shade people from
the dry summers. Found in almost every climate, used to build houses for the poor, and churches for the rich; wood has a very long and ever present history throughout the world.
SOUT H A MERICA
E A ST EUROPE NO R TH EU R O P E
W E ST EUROPE
FA R E A ST S O UTH EU ROPE
SOUTHE A ST A SIA CENTR AL A SIA
O CE ANI A AF R IC A
21
WO R LD T IM B E R T R A DI T IO N S 22
NORTH AMERICA
EAST EUROPE
North America has a wide range of trees and a large amount of resources that kept timber construction popular long after it was unpopular in Europe. The balloon frame replaced the complex wooden frame joinery and enabled the swift manufacture of whole wooden cities. Wood was seen as high quality material. [MC17]
East Europe has a large number of hard and soft woods that they use in block work construction. They notch the ends and lay them atop each other to form walls. They prefer axes to saws because saws would open up the grain and leave it exposed to weathering. Russia is best known for their creation of pyramid roofs and onion domes. [MC17]
FAR EAST
NORTH EUROPE
The Far East has a distinct timber construction in the way that they use rigid framing with the total absence of any discernible cross-bracing members. Truss systems were understood but ignored in favor of a sophisticated frame system. The prime consideration is the support of an enormous roof, the walls being merely infilling panels. Using horizontal beams as the primary element of the roof structure has also enabled craftsmen to adjust their roof profiles to curve. [MC17]
Scandinavia has large amounts of sacred land, full of tall coniferous trees such as oak. They have 4 main types of construction; blockwork; stave construction; framework construction with horizontal planks; and half timbering. All four use the "tight wall construction" technique to stack logs by cutting a long groove in the bottom of the upper log in a stack in order to create a tighter bond. All were eventually overtaken by blockwork or log construction. [MC17]
WESTERN EUROPE
SOUTH-EAST ASIA
SOUTH AMERICA
In Western Europe, timber structure was mostly used in peasant houses. They used shorter deciduous trees for frame construction. Eventually their society also ran out of resources and had to switch to masonry. [MC17]
South-East Asian is known for their teak trees which helps them put their framed timber constructions on piles or posts lifted off the ground, to alleviate flooded, keep out animals, and improve ventilation. [MC17]
South America has a large range of timber from hard woods to soft woods. Like Oceania, it mostly uses balloon framing in its timber construction. They use wooden posts to build directly over water.
SOUTH EUROPE
CENTRAL ASIA
OCEANIA
South Europe and Middle east were full stratified cities and quickly exploited their resources. Wooden buildings decreased rapidly with the growing of the shipping industry, and most structures are built from masonry. [MC17]
India and Central Asia used prodigious high trees in order to use a bracketing system in their timber construction. The main columns are raised all the way to the upper roof as the multiple tiers of brackets attach through them and are stabilized by lateral members extending the length of the building. [MC17]
Most timber being used is shipped over from the Americas. Oceania uses balloon-frame construction. This allows a whole length of wall frame to be nailed together on the ground before being levered into position. A large amount of Oceania’s housing is based on taking ideas from other parts of the world. [MC17]
23
I N CA MARKET
[MC41]
24
[MC43] [MC42]
CH AR MA IN E L AY + CH A RL ES M UR O I N CA , S PA IN
Located in the center of the city, the Inca Market houses a market hall, retail space and a parking lot. The connection to the outdoor space is emphasized with a strip that wraps around the plaza then transitions into the canopy that encloses the
market hall underneath. The wooden trusses that hold up the canopy bring in a lot of natural light and also provide ventilation, making the interior space highly pleasant.[MC44]
[MC45]
[MC46]
[MC48] [MC47] 25
WA I N G E L S CO LLEG E
[MC49]
26
[MC51]
[MC50] S H E P PA RD RO B S O N W O ODL E Y, UK
The Waingels College campus buildings were constructed employing mainly a cross laminated timber system that is highly efficient in its thermal and structural performance. It is a highly sustainable design that is environmentally friendly as well as economical in the construction and demolition phase. Based on a village scheme for the campus layout, four buildings surround
a central garden, encouraging the users to spend more time in the outdoors. The buildings themselves also are highly lit with natural lighting , providing pleasant spaces throughout the interior of the buildings. [MC52}
[MC53]
[MC54]
[MC56]
[MC55] 27
M U R R AY G ROV E TOW E R
[MC57]
28
[MC59]
[MC58] W AU G H T H IST L E TO N LON D ON, U K
Murray Grove is a nine story residential tower built with cross laminated timber. Housing twenty nine units, this tower is built entirely with timber. It is the first design that is able to acheive its height with load bearing timber walls, floor slabs, stair and lift cores. In its construction sequence, most of the components arrive on site pre-fabricated, minimizing the
construction duration to just nine weeks. The timber that constitutes this tower stores 181 tonnes of carbon and has saved 125 tonnes of carbon from entering the atmospher had the building used concrete. [MC60]
[MC61]
[MC62]
[MC64]
[MC63] 29
POST + BEAM
PR ECE D E N T S
TRUSS
30
SIEGEL + STRAIN ARCHITECTS YOUNTVILLE TOWN CENTER [MC24]
WAUGH THISTLETON ARCHITECTS MURRAY GROVE TOWER
NAITO ARCHITECT + ASSOCIATES SEA-FOLK MUSEUM [MC25]
SHEPPARD ROBSON WAINGELS COLLEGE [MC30]
[MC29]
VJAA MINNEAPOLIS ROWING CLUB [MC21]
KRAUS SCHONBERG ARCHITEKTEN HAMBURG NURSERY [MC26]
CHARMAIN LAY + CHARLES MURO INCA MARKET [MC22]
SHEPPARD ROBSON WAINGELS COLLEGE [MC27]
OLIVIER OTTEVAERE + JOHN LIN THE PINCH LIBRARY [MC23]
C LT
IRVING SITH JACK ARCHITECTS NMIT ARTS & MEDIA [MC28]
SHEET
G LU - L A M WA F F L E
G LU - L A M WAV E
XTU ARCHITECTS FRENCH PAVILION AT THE MILAN EXPO [MC34]
AL_A +ARUP TIMBER WAVE [MC36]
JURGEN MAYER H. ARCHITECTS METROPOL PARASOL [MC35]
PATKAU WINNIPEG SKATING SHELTER [MC31] AKIM MEGAS ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILION 2011 [MC32] KESKISARJA + TYNKKYNEN + CROLLA DRAGON SKIN PAVILION [MC33]
G LU - L A M L AT T IC E
SHoP ARCHITECTS SOUTH POND PAVILION [MC37]
AWP ATELIER OSLO PABELLON LINTERNA [MC38] SHIGERU BAN POMPIDOU CENTER [MC39] FREI OTTO MULTIHALLE
MANNHEIM
[MC40]
31
32
03
M AT E R I A L SYS T E M S Wood can be a competitive alternative to current construction methods, and can be used as the main material in tall building construction. This section explores different wood construction systems such as stick frame, timber frame, and panel frame, as well as typical wood joineries that can be used in wood systems. [MS1]
33
T I MB ER P R O D U CT
2 x 4
PLY
M AT E R I A L SYS T E M S
ST ICK FR A ME
34
HOUSE BU I LDI NG T YP O LO GY
T I M BE R
T IMB ER FR AM E
B A RN
CH U RCH
GLU L AM
LVL
CLT
M A S S T IMBER PA NEL
RESIDENT IA L BUIL DING
MIXED USE CIVIC CENT E R 35
PRO D U C T S + T Y PO LOGIE S 36
2X4
PLY
T IMBER
Lumber that is finished/planed and cut to standardized width and depth specified in inches. Rough Lumber - sawn, trimmed and edged - faces are rough with saw marks. Surfaced Lumber (dressed) Rough lumber that has been smoothed on one or more sides and edges by a surfacing machine. Worked Lumber - Surfaced lumber that has been matched and patterned. Dry lumber is defined as lumber with less than 19% moisture. Unseasoned or green lumber is lumber with more than 19% moisture.
Manufactured from thin sheets of cross-laminated veneer then bonded under heat and pressure with strong adhesives. Superior dimensional stability and an excellent strength-toweight ratio. Highly resistant to impacts, chemicals, and changes in environmental temperature and humidity. Available in a over a dozen common thicknesses, and a wide variety of appearance grades, ranging from smooth, natural surfaces suitable for finish work to more economical grades used for sheathing. [MS3]
Mass timber can be utilized in multi-story structure, designed and used primarily for industrial and storage purposes. Also commonly used for assembly and mercantile buildings, such as schools, churches, auditoriums, gymnasiums, supermarkets, and for various other structures. By using stress-graded sawn lumber, precise structural design procedures can be applied to heavy timber framing resulting in a completely engineered structure. Superior fire resistance and longspan strength. [MS4]
B A RN
CHURC H
[MS2]
HOUSE
GLU L A M
LV L
Composed of individual wood laminations (dimension lumber), specifically selected and positioned based on their performance characteristics, and then bonded together with durable, moisture-resistant adhesives. The grain of all laminations runs parallel with the length of the member. Can be used in horizontal applications as a beam, or vertically as a column. Excellent strength and stiffness properties (pound for pound, it is stronger than steel), and is available in a range of appearance grades for structural or architectural applications. [MS5]
Produced by bonding thin wood veneers together in a large billet so that the grain of all veneers is parallel to the long direction. The LVL billet is then sawn to desired dimensions depending on the end-use application. Because LVL is made with scarfed or lapped jointed veneers, LVL is available in lengths far beyond conventional lumber lengths. Popular LVL applications include headers and beams, hip and valley rafters, scaffold planking, and the flange material for prefabricated wood Ijoists. [MS6]
WAREHOUSE
O FF IC E + RESIDENT IA L
CLT Panels consisting of three, five, or seven layers of dimension lumber oriented at right angles to one another and then glued to form structural panels. Exceptional strength, dimensional stability, and rigidity. Resists high racking and compressive forces. Customized dimensions and panel sizes are available. Cost effective for multi-story and long-span diaphragm applications. Well suited to floors, walls and roofs used in mid-rise construction. Can be used interchangeably with other wood products or in hybrid applications. [MS7]
MIXED USE
37
OSB
Dry Wall
Cladding
Timber Post
TIMBER FRAME
OSB
38
Insulation
W A L L S ECT IO N
Heavy timber construction can be designed to be fire resistant by increasing the size of wood structural members and the thickness of wood floors and roofs, as well as using the right composition of the floors and roofs. The framing members in timber construction are columns, floor frames, and roof frames. Floor framing includes glulam or timber beams and girders, and roof frames are composed of glulam or timber arches. There are two types of walls that exist in timber construction: bearing and nonbearing. All wood walls should be treated with fire retardant. The exterior bearing walls should have a fire resistance rating of 2 hours. In group H facilities where fire separation distances are less than 5 feet, the fire resistance rating should be 3 hours. The interior bearing walls need to have a fire resistance rating of 1 hour. The exterior nonbearing walls should in general have a fire resistance rating of 2 hours. For group H facilities, however, it should be 3 hours. For horizontal separation between 5 and 10 feet, the nonbearing exterior walls should have a fire resistance rating of 1 hour. Group H facilities need to have 2 hours. The required fire resistance rating
PERLI N R AF TER
DI AG O NAL BR ACI N G
P O ST
POS T + BEAM
BEAM
39
D E TA I L DR AW IN G S ELE VAT IO N GEO ME TRY (TR A NSVERSE SPA N) This is a section of a typical floor in a tall wooden building. This would occur at every floor, and the next two drawings show the elements in this system.
Precast R/C Topping Slab Beam Splice 2’ Square Glulam Column
M A S S T IM B E R PA N E L F R A M E
T YPIC AL C O LU MN J OINT DE TA IL
40
In this example, the column to joint is precast. The vertical dowels are connected to the column, then the spandrel beam is reinforced, and the spandrel beam is cast.
2’ Square Glulam Column Column Ties Spandrel Beam Reinforcement Lap Splice Moisture Barrier
C LT FLO O R S ECT ION (PRIMA RY SPA N) The horizontal sheer connectors allow for a composite system. The plate can be connected using epoxy, bolt heads, or threaded rods that connect to the concrete.
Concrete Connector Moisture Barrier Shear Plate 5 Ply CLT
GLU L AM C O LU M N STRUCTUR A L CORE (WOOD )
STRUCTUR AL I NT E RIO R W ALLS
T I M B E R F LOO R S ( 8� TH IC KNES S)
CONCRE TE BE A MS [MS10]
Panel framing uses mass timber as a method of building a structural system for tall buildings. The system pictured above is Skidmore, Owings
and Merrill LLP’s solution to constructing tall wooden buildings. Mass timber is the main structural element, and reinforced concrete is
the secondary. In comparison to current existing building systems, mass timber is much cheaper and more environmentally friendly. [MS9]
41
M O R T I S E- AND -TENON
Compression
Shear
Racking
N AT U R A L JOI N E RY
F I NGER JOI NT
42
D OV E TAI L JOI NT HA L F-PIN
PI N
TA IL
Mortise-and-tenon joints have positive resistance to compression, shear, and racking, but no resistance to tension. The dovetail joint has strength in tension along the piece with the tails. [MS11]
NAI LS
WOOD SCRE WS
ROUNDHE AD
L 2/3 L
L
d OVALHE AD
I NTER NAL STEEL P L ATE JOI NER Y
EXTERNA L STEEL PL ATE JOINERY
ST E EL P L ATE
STEEL PL AT E
M A N U FAC T U R E D JOI N E RY
FL ATHE AD The holding power of a nail is a funtion of its diameter (d), driven length (L), and grain direction and density of wood. [MS11]
43
44
04 T ECH N O FUTURES
The advent of digital fabrication has brought with it a shift in traditional methods of timber construction. The flexibility afforded by CNC routing and robotic production have spurred highly customized, complex design investigations. New processes of assembly through automation propose optimized, creative arrangement of parts. In addition, new technologies have begun placing emphasis on embedding responsiveness within the material makeup of systems themselves. Effects produced by the specific nature of wood makes it a viable material for future exploration.
45
The digital workflow allows for a more synthsized method of production. From 3D log scanning optimizng rough sawn lumber to robotic tooling of complex individual parts, all phases of timber construction have been influenced by digital technologies.
CU STO M M ACH I NI N G
T ECH N O FUTURES
MATERIA L FO R MAT ION
46
MATERIA L P RO CES SI NG VIA RE A L T I M E SE NSI NG ME T HODS: RE AL-T IME SENSING LO G SCANNING
ROBOT IC A S SEMBLY
47
R O B OT IC A S S E MBLY Contemporary tools used in automated construction mainly focus on the use of CNC routing and robotic arms to manipulate and construct material. The high precision of computercontrolled assemblies allows for exact placement of spatially-complex structures.
robotic bending. In regards to timber, their work has focused on the role of assembling homogenous parts into intricate geometries.
A S S E M B LY
T F2
TF1 Critical to the use of robotic fabrication are the tools used by robotic arms, known as ‘end-effectors’. Design fabrication labs are currently experimenting with a wide variety of end effectors, from stapling to non-standard
48
Their project Complex Timber Structures integrated several processes into one smooth workflow by translating information in the digital model to machined output. Each of the 100 wood elements was individually cut, drilled and positioned by robotic arms. This joining technique involves the robot holding each part in place
while adhesive holding the internal steel rods cures [TF2]. Range of the robotic arm in space is a limiting factor for robotically fabricated designs. To counter this fact, fabrication companies have begun looking at alternatives, such as drone assembly units or attaching robot arms to moveable tracks. One such project which relies on the robot’s movement across a site is The Fragile Structure, an installation by Gramazio & Kohler. The work maps the robot’s movement across the site while orienting objects in space. An important aspect to note about on-site assembly is the capability of the construction processes to withstand unpredictable environmental conditions [TF2].
F LIG H T-A S SEM BLE D CO NST RU CT IO N
BUIL D ARE A : DRONE FL IGH T R ANGE
ROBOT IC ARM CONSTRUCT IO N
BUIL D ARE A : WORK ENVELOPE OF ROBOT
49
CU STOM TO O L IN G
TOO L I N G O F PA R T S
The high degree of axial freedom afforded by robotics offers a wide range of formal possibilities. Subtractive processes, such as carving or drilling, can take advantage of this feature by breaking down complex digital designs into individual customized units. Mass customization is a term frequently used for this contemporary method of production.
50
T F3 Robotically-Fabricated Wood Plate Morphologies, a project led by Tobias Schwinn, Oliver Krieg and Achim Menges, demonstrates the potential
of mass customizing units of large-scale structures. This pavilion’s shelled structure mimics the structural form of sand dollar organisms. Loads are transferred through finger joints which run along each edge of the hexagonal plates. Robotically-fabricating the dove-tailed joints allowed for quick produciton of an otherwise labor-intensive wood-working process. The entire pavilion is composed exclusively out of extremely thin plywood sheets [TF3]. Shigeru Ban’s Centre Pompidou in Metz, France relied on a complex, precise digital model to produce this highly-customized roof structure. In total, the wood beams are able to span 8,000 square meters. To produce this organic form, nearly 1,800 doubly-curved glulam segments, each with its own joint detail, were CNC routed and shipped to the site. This project was marked as a
remarkable advancement for digital manufacturing upon its completion in 2010. Since
T F4 that time, the ‘file-to-factory’ mode of operation has become an industry standard in building construction [TF4]. One of the biggest questions posed by those creating digital designs is whether parametric models have the capability to simplify the production process. As this technology continues to work its way into built projects, the skills and methods required to produce such innovative work continues to be refined.
1 . C ORRUG AT ED PANEL
2 . INCISED WO OD
3 . T ENSIL E PL AT ES
MO RP H O LO G I E S
C U STO M FA B RIC AT IO N
1 . GRIPPER 2 . SAW BL ADE 3 . QUICK CHANGER 4 . DRIL L 5 . SPR AY NOZZL E 6 . VACUUM CUP 7. SPRUCE GRIPPER
TO O L O P T IONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
51
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R E S PO NSIVE NAT U RE S
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Material research regarding wood has focused its efforts on a term referrred to as ‘embedded responsiveness’: the capacity of a material to react to various traits of its environment. Light, sound, humidity and movement are just a few examples of such qualities. The most promising tests are those which employ the hygroscopic (moistureabsorbtion) properties of wood. A striking characteristic of embedded responsiveness is that the material doesn’t rely on extraneous systems to perform. Motors and electrical input are often required for a material to sense and react to its surroundings. Alternatively, innovation is built into the ‘smart’ material itself, resulting in products which are both efficient and beautiful.
The University of Stuttgart’s Institute for Computational Design (ICD) conducted early experiments by alternating laminated layers of different wood species and grains. Depending on the combination, various levels of responsiveness could be achieved. The ICD has recently been exporing small, layered panels and testing how each reacts differently to humidity levels [TF5]. Building off this work on wood-veneer composite systems, the ICD has begun testing this effect by employing 3D printing technology. The basis of this research focuses on 3D printing units composed of alternating layers of wood and carbon fiber. Both the frame and radial apertures make up this 3D printed component [TF6]
TF7 The 3D printing of wood particles allows for sheets of customized grain patterns to be created. Depending on the wood species and grain pattern, certain reactions to environmental conditions can be ‘programmed’ into the material itself. Skylar Tibbits, a designer focuses his work on this area of material science at MIT’s Self-Assembly Lab, refers to this method as ‘4D printing’ since time is a key ingredient to the object’s method of form-finding [TF7].
HUMIDI T Y = 0%
HUMIDI T Y = 10 0%
CUSTOM L AYERED WOOD GR A INS
X1
X2
X3
3D PRINT
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T E XT I L E Although timber is usually thought of as a sturdy material, combining wooden chips with fabrics such as silk and Lycra allow the designer to create fluid wooden textile patterns . These are used as simple furnishings, creating a revolutionary way of utilizing wood. T F8
T F8 WOODEN TE X T ILES E L I S A S T R OZ Y K
MISS MAPL E” EL ISA ST ROZ Y K
N OTA B LE WO R KS
F U R NI T U RE
54
Underlying CNC-milled structures hold steam-bent strips of wood in place, creating smooth, organic seating surfaces. Both designers implement this technique to create stunning lounges with the aid of 3D
T F 10
T F9 T HE AMANDA BENCH” MAT T HIAS PL IESSNIG
BE A SE H WA CHAIR” BE A SE H WA
E NCLOS U RE Parametric modelling has allowed for the more complex assembly of planar wood modules at a large scale. The functionality of these structures has improved due to the capability of current design softwares to model optimized T F 11
T F 12
L ANDESG AR T ENSCHAU EXHIBI T ION HAL L”
BOWO OSS BIONIC INSPIRED RESE ARCH PAVIL ION”
SCULPTURE With an increase in cutting edge technology effecting architectural robotics as well as algorithmic techniques, dynamic firms such as Gramazio & Kohler and other research institutes are able to assemble installations at higher efficiency and precision. T F 13 FL IGH T ASSEMBL ED ARCHI T EC T URE”
T F 14 T HE SEQUEN T IAL WAL L”
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BI B L IOG R A PH Y 56
MR1
Harbusch, G. (2006). Ludwig Leo: Formen der Problemlösung. Berlin: G. Harbusch.
MC1
Craven, Jackie. "What Basic Components Are Necessary to Create Architecture?" About.com Home. N.p., 10 Oct. 2015. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
MC2
Norris, Lizzie. "Changing Ourselves." I Science. I Science, 24 Mar. 2015. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
MC3
"Shipbuilding." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.
MC4
"Rhody Survivalist: Shelter." Rhody Survivalist: Shelter. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.
MC5
"5 of the World’s Biggest Timber Structures." 5 of the World’s Biggest Timber Structures. International Timber, 21 May 2015. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
MC6
Ross, David. "Cressing Temple Barns | Historic Essex Guide." Britain Express. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
MC7
"Hopperstad Stave Church." Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
MC8
"Wat Phra Singh." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2016
MC9
Veland, Erik K. "Bryggen." UNESCO World Heritage Centre. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
MC10
"History of the Forbidden City." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
MC11
"The Restaurant." Maison Kammerzell The Restaurant Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
MC12
"Parson Capen House, Topsfield Historical Society, Topsfield Massachusetts." n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
MC13
"Hancock Shaker Village - Picture of Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield TripAdvisor." TripAdvisor, n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
MC14
Fiennes, Mark. "Interior Photos of the Gamble House." Gamblehouse.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
MC15
Chada. "W Hotel, Sydney." CHADA. N.p., 12 Mar. 2013. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
MC16
Campbell, David. Wood in Traditional Architecture. Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 2010. Print.
MC17
Pryce, Will. Buildings in Wood: The History and Traditions of Architecture’s Oldest Building Material. New York: Rizzoli, 2005. Print.
MC18
Pryce, Will. Buildings in Wood: The History and Traditions of Architecture’s Oldest Building Material. New York: Rizzoli, 2005. Print.
MC19
Campbell, David. Wood in Traditional Architecture. Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 2010. Print.
MC20
Anderson, Eric A., and George F. Earle. Design and Aesthetics in Wood. Syracuse: State U of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1972. Print.
MS1
Fukushima, Katsuya. "Archello - How It’s Made." Archello.com. Archello, 27 July 2015. Web. 27 Jan. 2016.
MS2
"Softwood Lumber Sizes." Softwood Lumber Sizes. The Engineering ToolBox, n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2016.
MS3
"Plywood." - APA – The Engineered Wood Association. The Engineered Wood Association, 2016. Web. 03 Feb. 2016.
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MS4
American Forest & Paper Association. Heavy Timber Construction. Washington DC: American Wood Council, 2003. Web.
MS5
"Glue Laminated Timber (Glulam)." Glue Laminated Timber (Glulam). ReThink Wood, 2016. Web. 03 Feb. 2016.
MS6
"Structural Composite Lumber (SCL)." - APA – The Engineered Wood Association. The Engineered Wood Association, 2016. Web. 03 Feb. 2016.
MS7
"Cross-Laminated Timber." Cross-Laminated Timber. ReThink Wood, 2016. Web. 03 Feb. 2016.
MS8
reThink Wood. "Summary Report: Survey of International Tall Wood Buildings." May 2014. Web.
MS9
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP. "Timber Tower Research Project." 2013. Web.
MS10
"Timber Tower Gets Times Treatment." Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. 24 Sept. 2013. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.
MS11
Hoadley, R. Bruce. "Joining Wood." Understanding Wood: A Craftsman’s Guide to Wood Technology. Newtown, CT: Taunton, 1980. 167-75. Print.
MS12
Waugh Thistleton. "Murray Grove." [Powerpoint Slides]. Retrieved from http://www.woodworks.org/wp-content/uploads/Waugh.pdf.
MS12
The Case for Tall Wood Buildings: How Mass Timber Offers a Safe, Economical, and Environmentally Friendly Alternative for Tall Building Structures. Canadian Wood Council, 2012. Web. Groenewolt, A., Krieg, O., & Menges, A. (2015). Robot-Assisted Assembly in Wood Construction. Institute for Computational Design. University of Stuttgart. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
TF1 TF2
58
Kohler, M., & Gramazio, F. (2014). The Robotic Touch: How Robots Change Architecture. Park Books.
TF3
Schwinn, T. & Menges, A. (2013). Robotically Fabricated Wood Plate Morphologies. Rob Arch: Robotic Fabrication in Architecture, Art, and Design (2012 ed., pp. 48-61). Vienna: Springer.
TF4
ArchDaily. (2014, March 27). Centre Pompidou-Metz / Shigeru Ban Architects. Retrieved January 25, 2016. Institute for Computational Design, University of Stuttgart. (2006). Biomimetic Responsive Surface Structures. Retrieved January 26, 2016. Correa D., Papadopoulou, A., Guberan, C., Jhaveri, N., Reichert, S., Menges, A., & Tibbits, S. (2015). 3D-Printed Wood: Programming Hygroscopic Material Transformations. 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, 2(3),
TF5 TF6 TF7
Tibbits, S., & Cheung, K. (2012). Programmable materials for architectural assembly and Automation. Assembly Automation, 32(3), 216-225. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
TF8
Strozyk, E. (n.d.). ‘Miss Maple’ (DE). Retrieved February 10, 2016, from http://www.dailytonic.com/miss-maple-by-elisa-strozyk-de/.
TF9
Pliessnig, M. (2011). Amada Bench. Retrieved February 10, 2016, from https://karmatrendz.wordpress.com/2011/01/23/amada-bench-by-matthias-pliessnig/.
TF10
Bae-sehwa-chair. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2016, from http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/3d-bae-sehwa-chair/918516.
TF11
Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2016, from http://www.domusweb.it/en/architecture/2014/06/26/landesgartenschau_exhibition_hall.html.
TF12
Grozdanic, L. (2012, September 18). Bowoos Bionic Research Pavilion. Retrieved February 10, 2016, from http://www.evolo.us/architecture/bowoos-bionic-research-pavilion-is-inspired-by-marine-biodiversity/.
TF13
G., & D`Andrea, R. (2012). Flight Assembled Architecture. Retrieved February 10, 2016, from http://www.gramaziokohler.com/web/e/projekte/209. html.
TF14
Oesterle, S. (2008). ROK. Retrieved February 10, 2016, from http://www. rok-office.com/projects/sequential-wall-068/.
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