Design Computation to Robotic Production Methods for Reciprocal Tessellation of Free-from Timber Structures - Design, production, and assembly of 100 years Bauhaus wood Pavilion

Abstract

In a reciprocal frame structure, at any given joint, there are only two members connecting to each other. Therefore, the joints in a standard reciprocal structure are topologically identical. Due to these topological similarities between the joints, the parametric modeling of a reciprocal frame structure applied to a geometrically regular surface, such as domes and symmetric shells, is practical, and it has been explored in several projects previously. In this context, this paper presents an integrated computational design to robotic production process of a free form wooden pavilion with a non-uniform tessellation pattern with differentiated cell sizes. The case study, on the one hand, elaborates on the challenges of solving reciprocal tessellation on complex geometries, and on the other hand, discusses the chosen and developed robotic production approach as a feedback loop that informs the design process.