Woven Wood / DEP 2 / Nov 09 http://cita.karch.

dk

WOVEN WOOD: designing for material performance

WORKSHOP WITH METTE RAMSGARD THOMSEN / MARTIN TAMKE / TORE BANKE /KARIN BECH CITA
THE RED HOUSE / THURSDAY 19 27 2009

Digital fabrication introduces new links between design, manufacture and craft. As
design becomes increasingly informed by computation we enter a practice that can
engage with increased levels of complexity. In this workshop we will explore the
intersection between digital design strategies and designing for material performance.
Working with woven wood structures we will investigate how self-bracing wood
structure can lead to new structural systems. We will work with parametric digital
design tools (Grasshopper) as a means of developing these structures: their pattern
logic, their structural systems and their spatial expression.

The workshop investigates the structural exploitation of material performance.
Materials are commonly used for their compressive strength. Traditional building
structures facilitate load bearing through a correlation of compressive and tensile forces
passing loads linearly through the building envelope. However, materials hold internal
forces that can be incorporated into structural systems. This material performance, such
as the tensile flexing of wood and steel, can be used strategically to increase structural
performance thereby reducing material use and leading to a more intelligent and
sustainable building practice. Whereas there is great awareness of the potentials of
working with material behaviour tools there is currently little applied research into the
testing of this. Today, much of the knowledge base in building practice aims to repress
and control these forces. The industrial standardisation of building material uses much
resource to harness the behaviours of materials. Similarly, engineering practice seeks to
compute and control material performance. This project asks how these knowledge
bases can be used to investigate new structural systems that incorporate material
performance.

The workshop takes the interior wall as site. You are asked to develop your own spatial
ambition for an interior wall probing its spatial and temporal extensions, its
permeability, structure and tectonic logic. Taking point of departure in wooden
structures we ask you to consider strategies for spatial transformation or
differentiation and for structural and formal performance. Does your wall move over
time? How can its flex be controlled to define spatial as well as structural qualities?
What are the means by which you can pleat, pin, tie, steam, laminate the structure so as
to articulate differentiation?

The workshop introduces a series of new skills. You are asked to work between 3D
modelling (rhino), parametric design (Grasshopper), speculative models (paper/wood)
and full scale demonstrators (hdf). The workshop is group based. We ask you to work in
groups of 4.

Test models at CITA

Could a building be woven?
Schukow self bracing radio towers


How can structure be textile?
Geodetic basket-weave
construction used during second
world war.

Woven Wood / DEP 2 / Nov 09 http://cita.karch.dk

Schedule
The workshop is short. We therefore expect you to work intensively through the week
and weekend. Your tutors have planned this as part of your studies. We therefore
expect you to move other appointments, work etc.

The workshop will take place in the RED HOUSE. Please bring your design tools, PCs
and hand tools such as drills saws etc.

Thur 19
th
Nov 9.00 Introduction
10:30 Grasshopper tutorial I (Intro)
Lunch
13:00 Grasshopper tutorial II (weaving)
15:30 Production of first speculative models

Fri 20 Nov 9:00 Review of speculative models
10:30 Grasshopper tutorial III (functions)
Lunch
13:00 Grasshopper tutorial IV (output data)
15:30 Development of speculative models

Sat 21 Nov 10:00 Developing models and prototypes

Sun 22 Nov 10:00 Developing models and prototypes

Mon 23

Nov 9:00 Review of models and prototypes
11:00 Developing models and prototypes, building demonstrator

Tue 24 Nov 9:00 Developing prototypes, building demonstrator

Wed 25 Nov 9:00 Developing prototypes, building demonstrator

Thur 26 Nov 9:00 Developing prototypes, building demonstrator
13:00 FINAL REVIEW with tutors from your programme

LINKS
http://www.grasshopper3d.com/
http://thegeometryofbending.blogspot.com/
http://biosarch.wordpress.com/?s=plank+lines&searchbutton=Go
http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3084678
http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Journals/Builder_Group/Building_Design/13_April_2007/attachments/Creating
%20the%20timber%20grillage.pdf
http://www.kennethsnelson.net/new_structure/structure1.htm
http://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/141297/files/n%20161%20IASS%20Weinand.pdf

Weaving Walls (Patterns, skins

and Grasshopper View)