INTEGRATED DIGITAL DESIGN AND FABRICATION STRATEGIES FOR COMPLEX STRUCTURES: RE-EXPERIENCING WOOD JOINERY IN ARCHITECTURE

Abstract

Throughout the history of architecture, the developments in material technologies and related fabrica=on techniques have played important roles in the design and construc=on process of a building. Human being has aoempted to create spaces to meet sheltering needs and while crea=ng spaces he has used and formed materials around him. Wood was one of the appropriate materials that was not only economic and aesthe=c, but also strong in tension, compression and bending, allowing triangulated space-frames or trusses and can=levered structures, etc. In this context, this research aoempts to understand the rela=onship between complex wooden structures in architecture and digital fabrica=on of wood joinery. By studying and analyzing selected case studies, the ar=cle will address the following ques=ons: What are the changes that have occurred in architectural design and fabrica=on of wood joinery due to the use of computa=onal design and digital fabrica=on technologies? How can wood serve architects in “materializing the complexity” of this era? Furthermore, the importance of re-searching new tectonics and materializa=on technologies while re-thinking of wood as a “new material” in architecture is discussed through the selected examples.