Human Touch in Digital Fabrication

Abstract

Human capabilities in architecture-scaled fabrication have the potential of being a driving force in both design and construction processes. However, while intuitive and flexible, humans are still often seen as being relatively slow, weak, and lacking the exacting precision necessary for structurally stable large-scale outputs—thus, hands-on involvement in on-site fabrication is typically kept at a minimum. Moreover, with increasingly advanced computational tools and robots in architectural contexts, the perfection and speed of production cannot be rivaled. Yet, these methods are generally non-engaging and do not necessarily require a skilled labor workforce, bringing to question the role of the craftsman in the digital age. This paper was developed with the focus of leveraging human adaptability and tendencies in the design and fabrication process, while using computational tools as a means of support. The presented setup consists of (i) a networked scanning and application of human movements and human on-site positioning, (ii) a lightweight and fast-drying extruded composite material, (iii) a handheld “smart” tool, and (iv) a structurally optimized generative form via an iterative feedback system. By redistributing the roles and interactions of humans and machines, the hybridized method makes use of the inherently intuitive yet imprecise qualities of humans, while maximizing the precision and optimization capabilities afforded by computational tools—thus incorporating what is traditionally seen as “human error” into a dynamically engaging and evolving design and fabrication process. The interdisciplinary approach was realized through the collaboration of structural engineering, architecture, and computer science laboratories.