Geometrically controlled digital workflow from scratch to fabrication

Abstract

Statistical data on European productivity in the field of architecture and construction indicate the fact that digital techniques in the last ten years have unfortunately not contributed to increase productivity, such as it is the situation in most of the other industries. If we compare other branches of industry and the dramatic impact of digitization on increasing their productivity, the question arises. Why is there no such progress in the field of architecture and what steps are needed to increase productivity? In the last four years we tried to address the topic digital technology and non-standard architecture within the bachelor course “Design of specialized topics” focused on the material wood. We offered our students the chance to witness the whole process from the early design to the final construction on site with all the advantages and drawbacks of the matter. With the projects realized with our students we want to show the possible and efficient realization of objects with high geometric complexity. We also want to point out the need of a well-organized work flow which has let to remarkable results. The specificity of our projects is that a students’ competition, the planning and the building of the project take place within a single semester. In the paper we will give a short overview of the projects and we will point out the importance of the included geometry especially for the structural design, the fabrication and the construction. Without the proper handling and understanding of the involved geometry no project would have been realized in such a high quality. We will present in detail the project called “Splitterwerk” implemented in summer term 2016.