ATRIUM BLUMER LEHMANN HEADQUARTERS »STAMMHAUS«

The new headquarters of the Swiss timber construction company Blumer Lehmann exemplifies contemporary timber architecture. At its core, a sculptural atrium with a freeform stair – designed by the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) at the University of Stuttgart – unfolds through the precise arrangement and intersection of curved cross-laminated timber elements. These elements integrate a spiraling staircase, mediate between the building’s levels, frame views, define alcoves, and generate a distinct spatial character. The project synthesizes computational design methods, digital fabrication, and expert craftsmanship into an architectural expression that makes the pioneering potential of timber construction spatially tangible. The overall building, which houses 180 office workspaces, a conference hall, and a cafeteria, was designed by K&L Architekten, St. Gallen.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/atrium/

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PROJECT TEAM

Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD)
Prof. Achim Menges, Martin Alvarez, Laura Kiesewetter, David Stieler, Dr. Dylan Wood, with support of: Edgar Schefer, Lena Strobel, Alina Turean

Blumer Lehmann AG
Katharina Lehmann, Martin Looser, David Riggenbach, Ursula Frick, Bertie Hipkin, Benedikt Schneider

K&L Architekten AG
Thomas Lehmann, Johanna Deinet

SJB Kempter Fitze AG (Engineers)
Stefan Rick

WANGEN TOWER
Landesgartenschau in Wangen im Allgäu 2024, Germany

Set amidst the scenic landscape of the western Allgäu, the Wangen Tower is an architectural landmark and pioneering timber structure for the Landesgartenschau 2024. Based on research conducted at the Cluster of Excellence ‘Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture (IntCDC)’ at the University of Stuttgart, the tower is the very first multi-level, walkable building to use self-shaped, structural timber components. The distinctive expression of the tower’s unique timber structure stand as a testament to the latent design possibilities in naturally renewable, locally sourced, regionally manufactured and resource-effective timber architecture, which can be uncovered through an integrative approach to scientific research, materially-informed computational design, digital fabrication and expert craftsmanship.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/wangen-tower/

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PROJECT PARTNERS

Cluster of Excellence IntCDC – Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture, University of Stuttgart

Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD)
Prof. Achim Menges, Martin Alvarez, Monika Göbel, Laura Kiesewetter, David Stieler, Dr. Dylan Wood, with support of: Gonzalo Muñoz Guerrero, Alina Turean, Aaron Wagner

Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE)
Prof. Dr. Jan Knippers, Gregor Neubauer

Blumer-Lehmann AG
Katharina Lehmann, David Riggenbach, Jan Gantenbein

with Biedenkapp Stahlbau GmbH
Markus Reischmann, Frank Jahr

Stadt Wangen im Allgäu

Landesgartenschau Wangen im Allgäu 2024 GmbH

PROJECT COLLABORATIONS

Scientific Collaboration:
Chair of Forest Utilization, Prof. Dr. Markus Rüggeberg, TU Dresden

Further Consulting Engineers:
wbm Beratende Ingenieure
Dipl.-Ing. Dietmar Weber, Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Daniel Boneberg

Collins+Knieps Vermessungsingenieure
Frank Collins

Schöne Neue Welt Ingenieure GbR
Florian Scheible, Andreas Otto

lohrer.hochrein Landschaftsarchitekten DBLA

Building Approval:

Checking Engineer: Prof. Hans Joachim Blaß, Karlsruhe

Approval: MPA Stuttgart, Dr. Gerhard Dill Langer, Prof. Dr. Philipp Grönquist

Construction Collaboration for Foundation
Fischbach Bauunternehmen

PROJECT SUPPORT:

DFG Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Zukunft Bau – Bundesministerium für Wohnen, Stadtentwicklung und Bauwesen/BBSR

TEXOVERSUM
New Education and Innovation Centre

Texoversum, an education, research and innovation centre for the cross-cutting technology in the field of textiles, is being established on the campus of Reutlingen University of Applied Sciences. As part of an ensemble, the new building will be developed and implemented as part of the master plan for the expansion of the Reutlingen campus. The Texoversum is a powerful and at the same time communicative element in the urban context of the academic institution. Allmann Sattler Wappner Architekten, Menges Scheffler Architekten and Jan Knippers Ingenieure are responsible for the design as a team. They were awarded first prize in the related design competition and subsequently commissioned with the realisation. The Texoversum comprises almost 3,000 square metres of space for different user groups. It includes workshops, laboratories, the internationally renowned collection of historical textile and fabric samples, multifunctional areas for research and development and various classrooms.

The architectural concept is based on a multifaceted examination of the topic of textile architecture. The design theme is reflected both structurally in the internal interweaving of functions and in the building envelope that creates its own identity. The unique façade made of carbon and glass fibres, the first of its kind to be implemented in this way, represents the innovative power and future viability of fibre-based materials and textile techniques. In a robotic winding process developed at the institutes of Achim Menges (ICD) and Jan Knippers (ITKE) at the University of Stuttgart, each individual facade element can be individually tuned to its functional requirements. Starting from three basic modules, the elements transform themselves according to their orientation toward the sun and form a unique, multi-layered appearance. The elements are completely self-supporting and do not require a supporting structure. Their staggered arrangement allows free views. In addition to the functional requirements as external shading devices and guard railing, the façade meets aesthetic and representative demands and creates a distinctive building that expresses textiles as a driving force for technology.

The design theme of permeability and networking is continued in the conception of the building structure. In its inner structure, Texoversum is designed as an open, transparent building with split levels. The offset mezzanine levels, which are also visually interwoven via the atrium, connect the different areas of use with each other and form a spatial continuum that ends in a generous roof terrace. Visually, each level boasts an unmistakable industrial character with hard-wearing screed and polished concrete surfaces as well as a ceiling with exposed conduits. The tiered seating platforms, offering a contrast as soft-furnished spaces, are designed to connect the levels one with another. Separate areas can be partitioned off where needed using fabric dividers. This open-plan design creates a collaborative workspace for the respective user groups, fostering open communication and offering various forums for an animated exchange of ideas.

HYBRID FLAX PAVILION
Landesgartenschau Wangen im Allgäu, 2024, Germany

The Hybrid Flax Pavilion constitutes a central exhibition building on the grounds of the Landesgartenschau, located on the winding banks of the recently revitalised Argen River. The pavilion showcases a novel wood-natural-fibre hybrid construction system developed by the Cluster of Excellence »Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture« (IntCDC) at the University of Stuttgart, as an alternative to conventional building methods. The unique hybrid system combines thin cross-laminated timber with robotically wound flax fibre bodies to create a novel, resource-efficient building structure made from regional, bio-based materials with a distinct local connection. Flax was historically processed in the local textile industry, whose old spinning mill was renovated as part of the Landesgartenschau. The pavilion’s gently undulating roof, together with its circular floor plan and centrally located climate garden, creates an exhibition space that seamlessly integrates into the surrounding landscape. The geothermally activatable floor slab made of recycled concrete provides year-round comfortable use of the permanent building.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/hybrid-flax-pavilion/

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PROJECT PARTNERS

Cluster of Excellence IntCDC – Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture, University of Stuttgart

ICD Institute for Computational Design and Construction

Prof. Achim Menges, Rebeca Duque Estrada, Monika Göbel, Harrison Hildebrandt, Fabian Kannenberg, Christoph Schlopschnat, Christoph Zechmeister

ITKE Institute for Building Structures and Structural Design
Prof. Dr. Jan Knippers, Tzu-Ying Chen, Gregor Neubauer, Marta Gil Pérez, Valentin Wagner

with support of: Daniel Bozo, Minghui Chen, Peter Ehvert, Alan Eskildsen, Alice Fleury, Sebastian Hügle, Niki Kentroti, Timo König, Laura Marsillo, Pascal Mindermann, Ivana Trifunovic, Weiqi Xie

Landesgartenschau Wangen im Allgäu 2024
Karl-Eugen Ebertshäuser, Hubert Meßmer

Stadt Wangen im Allgäu

HA-CO Carbon GmbH
Siegbert Pachner, Dr. Oliver Fischer, Danny Hummel

STERK abbundzentrum GmbH
Klaus Sterk, Franz Zodel, Simon Sterk

FoWaTec GmbH
Sebastian Forster

Biedenkapp Stahlbau GmbH
Stefan Weidle, Markus Reischmann, Frank Jahr

Harald Klein Erdbewegungen GmbH

PROJECT COLLABORATIONS

Scientific Collaboration:
IntCDC Large Scale Construction Laboratory
Sebastian Esser, Sven Hänzka, Hendrik Köhler, Sergej Klassen

Further Consulting Engineers:

Belzner Holmes und Partner Light-Design
Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Thomas Hollubarsch, Victoria Coval

BiB Concept
Dipl.-Ing. Mathias Langhoff

Collins+Knieps Vermessungsingenieure
Frank Collins, Edgar Knieps

Moräne GmbH – Geotechnik Bohrtechnik
Luis Ulrich M.Sc.

Spektrum Bauphysik & Bauökologie
Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Markus Götzelmann

wbm Beratende Ingenieure
Dipl.-Ing. Dietmar Weber, Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Daniel Boneberg

lohrer.hochrein Landschaftsarchitekten DBLA

Building Approval:

Landesstelle für Bautechnik
Dr. Stefan Brendler, Dipl.-Ing. Steffen Schneider

Proof Engineer
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans Joachim Blaß, Dr.-Ing. Marcus Flaig

Versuchsanstalt für Stahl, Holz und Steine, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Ummenhofer, Dipl.-Ing. Jörg Schmied

MPA Materials Testing Institute, University of Stuttgart
Melissa Lücking M.Sc., Dipl.-Ing (FH) Frank Waibel

Construction Collaboration
ARGE- Leistungsbereich Wärmeversorgungs- und Mittelspannanlagen
Franz Miller OHG
Stauber + Steib GmbH

PROJECT SUPPORT:

DFG German Research Foundation

Ministerium für Ernährung, Ländlichen Raum und Verbraucherschutz Baden-Württemberg

Bioökonomie Baden-Württemberg: Forschung- und Entwicklung (FuE) Förderprogramm »Nachhaltige Bioökonomie als Innovationsmotor für den Ländlichen Raum«

Holz Innovativ Programm (HIP), Ministerium für Ernährung, Ländlichen Raum und Verbraucherschutz Baden-Württemberg

IFB Institute of Aircraft Design, University of Stuttgart

ISW Institute for Control Engineering of Machine Tools and Manufacturing Units, University of Stuttgart

livMatS BIOMIMETIC SHELL
FIT Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, 2023

The livMatS Biomimetic Shell at the FIT Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies is a pioneering research building. The generous space, which flows smoothly into the surrounding campus, serves as an architectural incubator for the development of innovative, cross-disciplinary research ideas. Simultaneously, the building itself represents a research project of the two Clusters of Excellence, Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture (IntCDC) at the University of Stuttgart and Living, Adaptive and Energy-autonomous Materials Systems (livMatS) at the University of Freiburg, which are investigating an integrative approach to design and construction for sustainable architecture.

The building brings together the different research approaches of the two Excellence Clusters to achieve an architectural synthesis. Compared to a conventional timber building, the FIT Biomimetic Shell reduces the total environmental life cycle impact by 50%. The distinctive and highly resource-efficient segmented timber shell construction is fully deconstructible and reusable. It is made feasible through the integrative development of computational design methods, robotic prefabrication and automated construction processes, as well as novel forms of human-machine interaction in timber construction. Embedded in the wood shell is the »Solar Gate«, a large-scale skylight which contributes to the regulation of the indoor climate by means of a biomimetic, energy-autonomous, 4D-printed shading system. Together with an activated floor slab made of recycled concrete, this enables comfortable year-round use with minimal building services. The result is an expressive, flexible space and an architecture that shows alternative paths for sustainable construction, which will also serve as a platform for further research.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/livmats-biomimetic-shell/

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PROJECT PARTNERS

Cluster of Excellence IntCDC – Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture, University of Stuttgart.

ICD Institute for Computational Design and Construction
Prof. Achim Menges, Felix Amtsberg, Monika Göbel, Hans Jakob Wagner, Laura Kiesewetter, Nils Opgenorth, Christoph Schlopschnat, Tim Stark, Simon Treml, Xiliu Yang (Biomimetic Shell); Dylan Wood, Tiffany Cheng, Ekin Sila Sahin, Yasaman Tahouni (Solar Gate)

ITKE Institute for Building Structures and Structural Design
Prof. Dr. Jan Knippers, Simon Bechert

with support of:
Fabian Eidner, Arindam Katoch, August Lehrecke, Oliver Moldow, Kevin Saslawsky, Selin Sevim, Keerthana Udaykumar, Aaron Wagner, Xie Weiqi, Esra Yaman

Cluster of Excellence LivMatS – Living, Adaptive and Energy-autonomous Materials Systems, Albert-Ludwigs-Universitat Freiburg
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Ruhe, Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck, Prof. Dr. Anna Fischer

Müllerblaustein HolzBauWerke GmbH, Blaustein
Jochen Friedel, Johannes Groner, Daniel Gold

RESEARCH PARTNERS

Cluster of Excellence IntCDC – Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture, University of Stuttgart.

ISYS Institute for System Dynamics
Prof. Dr. Oliver Sawodny, Andreas Gienger, Anja Lauer, Sergej Klassen

IIGS Institute for Engineering Geodesy
Prof. Dr. Volker Schwieger, Sahar Abolhasani, Laura Balangé

ICD Architectural Computing, Institute for Computational Design and Construction
Prof. Dr. Thomas Wortmann, Lior Skoury, Max Zorn

IABP Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics
Prof. Dr. Philip Leistner, Roberta di Bari, Rafael Horn

IntCDC Large Scale Construction Laboratory
Dennis Bartl, Sebastian Esser, Sven Hänzka, Hendrik Köhler

FURTHER CONSULTING ENGINEERS

erdrich wodtke Planungsgesellschaft mbh
Christian Erdrich

Transsolar Klima Engineering GmbH
Prof. Dr. Thomas Auer, Christian Frenzel

Bauphysik 5
Joachim Seyfried

BEC GmbH
Matthias Buck

Belzner Holmes Light-Design
Thomas Hollubarsch

APPROVAL PROCEDURE

MPA University of Stuttgart
Dr. Simon Aicher

FURTHER EXECUTION

Geoconsult Ruppenthal
Vermessungsbüro Nutto
IB Becherer
Klitzke ELT-Plan
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Heinrich Bechert + Partner
FW Glashaus Metallbau GmbH & Co. KG
Moser GmbH & Co. KG
Lösch GmbH & Co. KG Lightning protection construction
BWF Offermann, Waldenfels & Co. KG
Parquet Studio Ganter GmbH & Co. KG
Elektro Mutter GmbH
Rees Sanitary and heating installations
Jakober GmbH
Kiefer & Sohn GmbH
Dirk Pesec

PROJECT SUPPORT

DFG German Research Foundation

Carlisle Construction Materials GmbH
HECO-Schrauben GmbH & Co. KG
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
Puren GmbH
Raimund-Beck KG

HYGROSHELL – ITECH RESEARCH PAVILION
Chicago Architecture Biennial, 2023

At the nexus of complex ecological, socioeconomic, and sociocultural crises, the built environment urgently requires a fundamentally new approach to design, engineering, and construction. As we shift from an era of energy abundance and industrial materials to one of energy scarcity and natural materials, material intelligence will become synonymous with construction logic. HygroShell, which makes its debut at the Chicago Architecture Biennial 2023, is at the forefront of this paradigm shift, harnessing the previously undesirable hygroscopic material properties of wood to create form and structure, exploring a new kind of bio-based and bio-inspired architecture.

HygroShell investigates a first-of-its-kind, self-constructing-timber building system, heralding new material cultures in architecture. Utilizing novel computational methods to access timber’s inherent shape-changing properties, HygroShell showcases the design, engineering, and production of a full-scale, long-spanning, lightweight shell made from flat-packed, components curved in situ. Each component contains architectural, structural, and kinetic characteristics embedded into its flat state, actuating on site to produce a curved, shingle-clad, interlocked geometry.

The result is a delicately arced canopy spanning 10 meters while only 28 millimeters thin. Diverging from typical structural typologies, the roof’s single-curved design unlocks new potentials for resource-saving, thin-shell construction with bio-based materials. HygroShell explores an alternative approach to future-proof architecture using the fundamental properties of timber as an in-situ shaping mechanism, structural driver, and design foundation. Through this computationally enabled understanding of natural materials, it is possible to achieve deeper architectural integration in both material and form, and to explore an ecologically effective, yet expressive material culture in architecture.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/hygroshell/

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PROJECT TEAM

Institute for Computational Design and Construction – ICD

Dr.-Ing. Dylan Wood, Laura Kiesewetter, Prof. Achim Menges

Institute for Building Structures and Structural Design – ITKE

Dr.-Ing. Axel Körner, Kenryo Takahashi, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jan Knippers

Concept Development, System Development, Fabrication & Construction:

Andre Aymonod, Wai Man Chau, Min Deng, Fabian Eidner, Maxime Fouillat, Hussamaldeen Gomaa, Yara Karazi, Arindam Katoch, Oliver Moldow, Ioannis Moutevelis, Xi Peng, Yuxin Qiu, Alexander Reiner, Sarvenaz Sardari, Edgar Schefer, Selin Sevim, Ali Shokri, Sai Praneeth Singu, Xin Sun, Ivana Trifunovic, Alina Turean, Aaron Wagner, Chia-Yen Wu, Weiqi Xie, Shuangying Xu, Esra Yaman, and Pengfei Zhang

With support of: Katja Rinderspacher, Simon Bechert, Michael Schneider, Michael Preisack, Sven Hänzka, Sergej Klassen, Hendrik Köhler, Dennis Bartl, Sebastian Esser, Gregor Neubauer, Gabriel Kerekes and the Institute for Engineering Geodesy (IIGS)

Cluster of Excellence Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture – IntCDC

PROJECT SUPPORT

Chicago Architecture Biennial

German Research Foundation (DFG)

University of Stuttgart – School of Talents

Digitize Wood – Ministry of Rural Development and Consumer Protection Baden-Wuerttemberg (MLR)

Zukunft Bau – Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction

Kolb Sägewerk

Henkel AG

Scantronic

Brookhuis Technologies

MAISON FIBRE – VENICE ARCHITECTURE BIENNIAL
17th International Architecture Exhibition–La Biennale di Venezia 2021

The contribution of the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) and the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) at the University of Stuttgart to the Biennale Architettura 2021 is an exploration of an alternative material culture, a term commonly used in the social sciences and the humanities. Maison Fibre, the central display of the exhibition, is both a full-scale architectural installation and an open model for the cultural change being postulated. It deals with the departure from pre-digital, material-intensive construction using mostly heavy, isotropic building materials such as concrete, stone, and steel—which are often extracted in faraway places, processed into building elements, and then transported over long distances—to genuinely digital construction methods with locally differentiated and locally manufactured structures made of highly anisotropic materials: an architecture made of fibers.

Maison Fibre is based on a decade of research on robotically manufactured fiber composite structures. It is the first multi-story architecture of this kind, featuring inhabitable fibrous floor slabs and walls. The entire structure consists exclusively of so-called fiber rovings, essentially bundles of endless, unidirectional fibers. To underline the model character of the project, a system of reconfigurable wall and ceiling elements based on the 2.5-meter grid dimension typical of residential buildings was developed.

The project’s projective aspect is derived from its reference to a formative model of architectural history, Le Corbusier’s Maison Dom-Ino. The floor area of the installation corresponds to the historical reference, as does the division over three floors and the versatile, expandable system. The radically different nature of the fibrous – compared to tectonics of the massive – can be experienced spatially and tactilely by the visitors. Another key difference is the possible adaptability and thus the interaction with the existing building stock, which will be decisive for future urban buildings. This is deliberately emphasized by integrating the existing columns of the Arsenale building into the installation.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/maison-fibre/

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PROJECT TEAM

ICD Institute for Computational Design, University of Stuttgart
Prof. Achim Menges, Niccolo Dambrosio, Katja Rinderspacher, Christoph Zechmeister. Rebeca Duque Estrada, Fabian Kannenberg, Christoph Schlopschnat

ITKE Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design, University of Stuttgart
Prof. Jan Knippers, Nikolas Früh, Marta Gil Pérez, Riccardo La Magna

Lab support: Aleksa Arsic, Sergej Klassen, Kai Stiefenhofer

Student Assistance: TzuYing Chen, Vanessa Costalonga Martins, Sacha Cutajar, Christo van der Hoven, Pei-Yi Huang, Madie Rasanani, Parisa Shafiee, Anand Nirbhaybhai Shah, Max Benjamin Zorn

In collaboration with: FibR GmbH, Stuttgart
Moritz Dörstelmann, Ondrej Kyjanek, Philipp Essers, Philipp Gülke
with support of: Erik Zanetti, Elpiza Kolo, Prateek Bajpai, Jamiel Abubaker, Konstantinos Doumanis, Julian Fial, Sergio Maggiulli

PROJECT SUPPORT

University of Stuttgart
Cluster of Excellence IntCDC, EXC 2120
Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts, Baden-Württemberg

GETTYLAB
Teijin Carbon Europe GmbH
Elisabetta Cane with Bipaled s.r.l.

Trimble Solutions Germany GmbH

livMatS PAVILION
Botanic Garden Freiburg

Over the past century, the construction industry has become one of the most material-intensive and environmentally detrimental human activities. Located in the Botanical Garden of the University of Freiburg, the livMatS Pavilion offers a viable, resource-efficient alternative to conventional construction methods and therefore represents an important step towards sustainability in architecture. It constitutes the first building ever with a load-bearing structure that is entirely made of robotically wound flax fibre, a material that is fully naturally renewable, biodegradable, and regionally available in Central Europe.

Enabled by a novel combination of natural materials and advanced digital technologies, this pavilion stems from the successful collaboration of an interdisciplinary team of architects and engineers of the ITECH master`s programme at the Cluster of Excellence »Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture (IntCDC)« at the University of Stuttgart and biologists from the Cluster of Excellence »Living, Adaptive and Energy-autonomous Material Systems (livMatS)« at the University of Freiburg.

The bioinspired pavilion showcases how novel co-design processes that account concurrently for geometrical, material, structural, productional, environmental, and aesthetic requirements, together with advanced robotic fabrication techniques applied to natural materials, are capable to generate a unique architecture that is at the same time ecological and expressive. The distinctive, intricate surface appearance of the structural flax elements is evocative of both vernacular examples of latticework and biological systems.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/livMatS-Pavilion/

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PROJECT TEAM

Cluster of Excellence IntCDC – Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture, University of Stuttgart

Institute for Computational Design and Construction – Prof. Achim Menges

Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design – Prof. Jan Knippers

Scientific Development:
Marta Gil Pérez, Serban Bodea, Niccolò Dambrosio, Bas Rongen, Christoph Zechmeister
Project Management: Katja Rinderspacher, Marta Gil Pérez, Monika Göbel

Concept Development, System Development, Prototyping:
2018–2020: Talal Ammouri, Vanessa Costalonga Martins, Sacha Joseph Cutajar, Edith Anahi Gonzalez San Martin, Yanan Guo, James Hayward, Silvana Herrera, Jeongwoo Jang, Nicolas Kubail Kalousdian, Simon Jacob Lut, Eda Özdemir, Gabriel Rihaczek, Anke Kristina Schramm, Lasath Ryan Siriwardena, Vaia Tsiokou, Christo van der Hoven, Shu Chuan Yao

2018-2019: Karen Andrea Antorveza Paez, Okan Basnak, Guillaume Caussarieu, Zhetao Dong, Kurt Drachenberg, Roxana Firorella Guillen Hurtado, Ridvan Kahraman, Dilara Karademir, Laura Kiesewetter, Grzegorz Łochnicki, Francesco Milano, Yue Qi, Hooman Salyani, Nasim Sehat, Tim Stark, Zi Jie, Jake Tan, Irina Voineag

Facade Development: Tim Stark

With support of: Okan Basnak, Yanan Guo, Axel Körner

Student assistance: Matthew Johnson, Daniel Locatelli, Francesca Maisto, Mahdieh Hadian Rasanani, Lorin Samija, Anand Shah, Lena Strobel, Max Zorn

FibR GmbH, Stuttgart
Moritz Dörstelmann, Ondrej Kyjanek, Philipp Essers, Philipp Gülke
with support of: Erik Zanetti, Elpiza Kolo, Prateek Bajpai, Hooman Salyani, Jamiel Abubaker, Julian Fial, Sergio Maggiulli, Mansour Ba, Christo van der Hoven

A joint project of the Clusters of Excellence livMatS, University of Freiburg (Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Rühe,) and IntCDC, University of Stuttgart

PROJECT SUPPORT

Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt
Exolon Group GmbH

URBACH TOWER
Remstal Gartenschau 2019

The Urbach Tower is one of 16 stations designed by some of the most renowned German architects for the Remstal Gartenschau 2019. The stations are small, permanent buildings that evoke the traditional white chapels distributed in the fields and vineyards along the scenic Rems Valley. Located on a prominent hillside in the center of the valley, the 14 m tall tower is a striking landmark that visually connects several stations. It provides a place of shelter, internal reflection and outward view by revealing stunning vistas and framing the landscape. The distinctive form of the tower constitutes a truly contemporary architectural expression of the traditional construction material wood. It celebrates the innate and natural characteristics of self-shaped wood in its upwards spiraling shape. The concave curvature of the structure on the outside results in sharp lines and crisp surfaces, which is further accentuated by direct day light and whitening of the larch cladding over time. In contrast, on the interior the convex curvature creates an unexpected visual and tactile material experience, with the timber structure appearing to be almost soft and textile-like, highlighted by the light washing the gently undulating surfaces. Opposite the entrance, the thin wood envelope opens like curtain, putting the Rems Valley on center stage.

The design of the tower emerges from a new self-shaping process of the curved wood components. This pioneering development constitutes a paradigm shift in timber manufacturing from elaborate and energy-intensive mechanical forming processes that require heavy machinery to a process where the material shapes entirely by itself. This shape change is driven only by the wood’s characteristic shrinking during a decrease of moisture content. Components for the 14 m tall tower are designed and manufactured in a flat state and transform autonomously into the final, programmed curved shapes during industry-standard technical drying. This opens up new and unexpected architectural possibilities for high performance and elegant structures, using a sustainable, renewable, and locally sourced building material.

The Urbach Tower constitutes the very first structure worldwide made from self-shaped, building-scale components. It not only showcases this innovative manufacturing approach and resultant novel timber structure; it also intensifies the visitors’ spatial involvement and landscape experience by providing a striking landmark building for the City of Urbach’s contribution to the Remstal Gartenschau 2019.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/remstal-gartenschau-2019-urbach-turm/

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PROJECT TEAM

ICD Institute for Computational Design and Construction, University of Stuttgart
Prof. Achim Menges, Dylan Wood
Architectural Design
Self-forming Curved Wood Components Research and Development

ITKE Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design, University of Stuttgart
Prof. Jan Knippers, Lotte Aldinger, Simon Bechert
Structural Design and Engineering

Scientific collaboration:

Laboratory of Cellulose and Wood Materials, Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology), Switzerland & Wood Materials Science, ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich), Switzerland
Dr. Markus Rüggeberg, Philippe Grönquist, Prof. I. Burgert
Self-forming Curved Wood Components Research and Development (PI)

Industry collaboration:

Blumer-Lehmann AG, Gossau, Switzerland
Katharina Lehmann, David Riggenbach
Self-forming Curved Wood Components Research and Development
Wood Manufacturing and Construction

PROJECT SUPPORT

Gemeinde Urbach

Remstal Gartenschau 2019 GmbH

University of Stuttgart

Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt DBU (German Federal Environmental Foundation)
Design, Fabrication and Engineering Methods for the application of curved wood elements in high-performance, resource-efficient wood construction: Project Tower Urbach, Remstal Gartenschau 2019

InnoSuisse – Swiss Innovation Agency
Smart, Innovative Manufacturing of Curved Wooden Components for Architecture with Complex Geometry

BUGA WOOD PAVILION
Bundesgartenschau Heilbronn 2019

The BUGA Wood Pavilion celebrates a new approach to digital timber construction. Its segmented wood shell is based on biological principles found in the plate skeleton of sea urchins, which have been studied by the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) and the Institute for Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) at the University of Stuttgart for almost a decade.

As part of the project, a robotic manufacturing platform was developed for the automated assembly and milling of the pavilion’s 376 bespoke hollow wood segments. This fabrication process ensures that all segments fit together with sub-millimetre precision like a big, three-dimensional puzzle. The stunning wooden roof spans 30 meters over one of BUGA’s main event and concert venues, using a minimum amount of material while also generating a unique architectural space.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/buga-wood-pavilion-2019/

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PROJECT PARTNERS

ICD Institute for Computational Design, University of Stuttgart
Prof. Achim Menges, Martin Alvarez, Monika Göbel, Abel Groenewolt, Oliver David Krieg, Ondrej Kyjanek, Hans Jakob Wagner

ITKE Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design, University of Stuttgart
Prof. Jan Knippers, Lotte Aldinger, Simon Bechert, Daniel Sonntag

with support of: Jorge Christie, Rebeca Duque Estrada, Robert Faulkner, Fabian Kannenberg, Guillaume Caussarieu, Bahar Al Bahar, Kyriaki Goti, Mathias Maierhofer, Valentina Soana, Babasola Thomas

Müllerblaustein Bauwerke GmbH, Blaustein
Reinhold Müller, Daniel Müller, Bernd Schmid

BEC GmbH
Matthias Buck, Zied Bhiri

Bundesgartenschau Heilbronn 2019
Hanspeter Faas, Oliver Toellner

PROJECT BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS

Landesstelle für Bautechnik
Dr. Stefan Brendler und Dipl.-Ing. Willy Weidner

Proof Engineer
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hugo Rieger

MPA Stuttgart
Dr. Simon Aicher

PLANNING PARTNERS

Belzner Holmes Light-Design, Stuttgart
Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Hollubarsch

BIB Kutz GmbH & Co.KG, Karlsruhe
Dipl.- Ing. Beatrice Gottlöber

IIGS – Institut for Engineering Geodesy, University of Stuttgart
Prof. Volker Schwieger, Laura Balange, Urs Basalla

PROJECT SUPPORT

State of Baden-Wuerttemberg
University of Stuttgart
EFRE European Union
GETTYLAB
DFG German Research Foundation

Carlisle Construction Materials GmbH
Puren GmbH
Hera Gmbh & Co. KG
Beck Fastener Group
J. Schmalz GmbH
Niemes Dosiertechnik GmbH
Jowat Adhesives SE
Raithle Präzisionswerkzeuge Service
Leuze electronic GmbH & Co. KG
Metsä Wood Deutschland GmbH

BUGA FIBRE PAVILION
Bundesgartenschau Heilbronn 2019

Embedded in the wavelike landscape of the Bundesgartenschau grounds, the BUGA Fibre Pavilion offers visitors an astounding architectural experience and a glimpse of future construction. It builds on many years of biomimetic research in architecture at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) and the Institute for Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) at the University of Stuttgart.

The pavilion demonstrates how combining cutting-edge computational technologies with constructional principles found in nature enables the development of truly novel and genuinely digital building systems. The pavilion’s load-bearing structure is robotically produced from advanced fibre composites only. This globally unique structure is not only highly effective and exceptionally lightweight, but it also provides a distinctive yet authentic architectural expression and an extraordinary spatial experience.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/buga-fiber-pavilion/

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PROJECT PARTNERS

ICD Institute for Computational Design, University of Stuttgart
Prof. Achim Menges, Serban Bodea, Niccolo Dambrosio, Monika Göbel, Christoph Zechmeister

ITKE Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design, University of Stuttgart
Prof. Jan Knippers, Valentin Koslowski Marta Gil Pérez, Bas Rongen

with support of: Rasha Alshami, Karen Andrea Antorvaeza Paez, Cornelius Carl, Sophie Collier, Brad Elsbury, James Hayward, Marc Hägele, You-Wen Ji, Ridvan Kahraman, Laura Kiesewetter, Xun Li, Grzegorz Lochnicki, Francesco Milano, Seyed Mobin Moussavi, Marie Razzhivina, Sanoop Sibi, Zi Jie Tan, Naomi Kris Tashiro, Babasola Thomas, Vaia Tsiokou, Sabine Vecvagare, Shu Chuan Yao

FibR GmbH, Stuttgart
Moritz Dörstelmann, Ondrej Kyjanek, Philipp Essers, Philipp Gülke; with support of: Leonard Balas, Robert Besinger, Elaine Bonavia, Yen-Cheng Lu

Bundesgartenschau Heilbronn 2019 GmbH
Hanspeter Faas, Oliver Toellner

PROJECT BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS

Landesstelle für Bautechnik
Dr. Stefan Brendler, Dipl.-Ing. Steffen Schneider

Proof Engineer
Dipl.-Ing. Achim Bechert, Dipl.-Ing. Florian Roos

DITF German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Götz T. Gresser, Pascal Mindermann

PLANNING PARTNERS

Belzner Holmes Light-Design, Stuttgart
Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Hollubarsch

BIB Kutz GmbH & Co.KG, Karlsruhe
Dipl.- Ing. Beatrice Gottlöber

Transsolar Climate Engineering, Stuttgart
Prof. Thomas Auer

Frauenhofer-Institut ICT
Dipl.-Ing. Elisa Seiler

PROJECT SUPPORT

State of Baden-Wuerttemberg
University of Stuttgart
Baden-Württemberg Stiftung
GETTYLAB
Forschungsinitiative Zukunft Bau
Leichtbau BW

Pfeifer GmbH
Ewo GmbH
Fischer Group

ELYTRA FILAMENT PAVILION
Victoria and Albert Museum, London

The Elytra Filament Pavilion celebrates a truly integrative approach to design and engineering. As a centrepiece of the V&A’s Engineering Season it demonstrates how architectural design can unfold from a synergy of structural engineering, environmental engineering and production engineering, resulting in unique spatial and aesthetic qualities. It showcases the profound impact of emerging technologies on our conceptualisation of design, engineering and making, by intensifying the visitors architectural experience of the museum’s central garden. But instead of being merely a static display, the pavilion constitutes a dynamic space and an evolving structure. The cellular canopy grows from an onsite fabrication nucleus, and it does so in response to patterns of inhabitation of the garden over time, driven by real time sensing data. The pavilion’s capacity to be locally produced, to expand and to contract over time provides a vision of future inner city green areas with responsive semi-outdoor spaces that enable a broader spectrum of public activities, and thus extend the use of the scarce resource of public urban ground.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/elytra-filament-pavilion/

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DESIGN, ENGINEERING AND FABRICATION TEAM

Achim Menges with Moritz Dörstelmann
ICD–Institute for Computational Design, University of Stuttgart
Achim Menges Architect, Frankfurt
Team also includes: Marshall Prado (fabrication development), Aikaterini Papadimitriou, Niccolo Dambrosio, Roberto Naboni, with support by Dylan Wood, Daniel Reist

Jan Knippers
ITKE–Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design, University of Stuttgart
Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering, Stuttgart, New York
Team also includes: Valentin Koslowski & James Solly (structure development), Thiemo Fildhuth (structural sensors)

Thomas Auer
Transsolar Climate Engineering, Stuttgart
Building Technology and Climate Responsive Design, TU München
Team also includes: Elmira Reisi, Boris Plotnikov

With the support of:
Michael Preisack, Christian Arias, Pedro Giachini, Andre Kauffman, Thu Nguyen, Nikolaos Xenos, Giulio Brugnaro, Alberto Lago, Yuliya Baranovskaya, Belen Torres, IFB University of Stuttgart (Prof. P. Middendorf)

Commission:
Victoria & Albert Museum, London 2016

FUNDING

Victoria & Albert Museum, London
University of Stuttgart

Getty Lab

Kuka Roboter GmbH + Kuka Robotics UK Ltd
SGL Carbon SE
Hexion
Covestro AG
FBGS International NV
Arnold AG
PFEIFER Seil- und Hebetechnik GmbH
Stahlbau Wendeler GmbH + Co. KG
Lange+Ritter GmbH
STILL GmbH

SUZHOU APARTEMENT-HOTEL PAVILIONS

The six innovative timber pavilions were constructed for the 9th Horticultural Expo in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. The design anticipated the post-Expo use as apartment pavilions that form part of a hotel.

ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILLON 2015-16

The Institute for Computational Design (ICD) and the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) of the University of Stuttgart have completed a new research pavilion demonstrating robotic textile fabrication techniques for segmented timber shells. The pavilion is the first of its kind to employ industrial sewing of wood elements on an architectural scale. It is part of a successful series of research pavilions which showcase the potential of computational design, simulation and fabrication processes in architecture. The project was designed and realized by students and researchers within a multi-disciplinary team of architects, engineers, biologists, and palaeontologists.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/icditke-research-pavilion-2015–16/

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PROJECT TEAM

ICD Institute for Computational Design–Prof. Achim Menges
ITKE Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design–Prof. Jan Knippers

Scientific Development:

Simon Bechert, Oliver David Krieg, Tobias Schwinn, Daniel Sonntag

Concept Development, System Development, Fabrication & Construction:

Martin Alvarez, Jan Brütting, Sean Campbell, Mariia Chumak, Hojoong Chung, Joshua Few, Eliane Herter, Rebecca Jaroszewski, Ting-Chun Kao, Dongil Kim, Kuan-Ting Lai, Seojoo Lee, Riccardo Manitta, Erik Martinez, Artyom Maxim, Masih Imani Nia, Andres Obregon, Luigi Olivieri, Thu Nguyen Phuoc, Giuseppe Pultrone, Jasmin Sadegh, Jenny Shen, Michael Sveiven, Julian Wengzinek, and Alexander Wolkow

With the support of Long Nguyen, Michael Preisack, and Lauren Vasey

In collaboration with:

Departement of Evolutionary Biology of Invertebrates – Prof. Oliver Betz
Departement of Palaeontology of Invertebrates–Prof. James Nebelsick
University of Tuebingen

PROJECT SUPPORT

DFG German Research Foundation
GETTYLAB

BW-Bank
Edelrid
Frank Brunnet GmbH
Forst BW
Groz-Beckert KG
Guetermann GmbH
Hess & Co.
KUKA Roboter GmbH
Mehler Texnologies GmbH

ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILLON 2014-15

The ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2014-15 demonstrates the architectural potential of a novel building method inspired by the underwater nest construction of the water spider. Through a novel robotic fabrication process an initially flexible pneumatic formwork is gradually stiffened by reinforcing it with carbon fibers from the inside. The resulting lightweight fiber composite shell forms a pavilion with unique architectural qualities, while at the same time being a highly material-efficient structure.

The Institute for Computational Design (ICD) and the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) continue their series of research pavilions with the new ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2014-15 at the University of Stuttgart. These building prototypes explore application potentials of novel computational design, simulation and fabrication processes in architecture. The pavilion was developed at the intersection of the two institute’s research fields and their collaborative teaching in the context of the interdisciplinary and international ITECH MSc program. This prototypical project is the result of one and a half years of development by researchers and students of architecture, engineering and natural sciences.

The design concept is based on the study of biological construction processes for fiber-reinforced structures. These processes are relevant for applications in architecture, as they do not require complex formwork and are capable of adapting to the varying demands of the individual constructions. The biological processes form customized fiber-reinforced structures in a highly material-effective and functionally integrated way. In this respect the web building process of the diving bell water spider, (Agyroneda Aquatica) proved to be of particular interest. Thus the web construction process of water spiders was examined and the underlying behavioral patterns and design rules were analyzed, abstracted and transferred into a technological fabrication process.

The pavilion serves as a demonstrator for advanced computational design, simulation and manufacturing techniques and shows the innovative potential of interdisciplinary research and teaching. The prototypical building articulates the anisotropic character of the fiber composite material as an architectural quality and reflects the underlying processes in a novel texture and structure. The result is not only a particularly material-effective construction, but also an innovative and expressive architectural demonstrator.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/icditke-research-pavilion-2014–15/

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PROJECT TEAM

ICD Institute for Computational Design–Prof. Achim Menges
ITKE Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design–Prof. Jan Knippers

Scientific Development:

Moritz Dörstelmann, Valentin Koslowski, Marshall Prado, Gundula Schieber, Lauren Vasey

System Development, Fabrication & Construction:

WS13/14, SoSe14, WS14/15: Hassan Abbasi, Yassmin Al-Khasawneh, Yuliya Baranovskaya, Marta Besalu, Giulio Brugnaro, Elena Chiridnik, Tobias Grun, Mark Hageman, Matthias Helmreich, Julian Höll, Jessica Jorge, Yohei Kanzaki, Shim Karmin, Georgi Kazlachev, Vangel Kukov, David Leon, Kantaro Makanae, Amanda Moore, Paul Poinet, Emily Scoones, Djordje Stanojevic, Andrei Stoiculescu, Kenryo Takahashi and Maria Yablonina

WS14/15: Rebecca Jaroszewski, Yavar Khonsari, Ondrej Kyjanek, Alberto Lago, Kuan-Ting Lai, Luigi Olivieri, Guiseppe Pultrone, Annie Scherer, Raquel Silva, Shota Tsikoliya

With the support of:

Ehsan Baharlou, Benjamin Felbrich, Manfred Hammer, Axel Körner, Anja Mader, Michael Preisack, Seiichi Suzuki, Michael Tondera

In collaboration with:

Departement of Evolutionary Biology of Invertebrates, University of Tuebingen
Prof. Dr.Oliver Betz

Departement of Palaeontology of Invertebrates, University of Tuebingen
Prof. Dr.James Nebelsick, Dr.Christoph Allgaier

Institute for Machine Tools, University of Stuttgart
Dr. Thomas Stehle, Rolf Bauer, Michael Reichersdörfer

Institute of Aircraft Design, University of Stuttgart
Stefan Carosella, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Middendorf

PROJECT SUPPORT

KUKA Roboter GmbH, GETTYLAB, tat aiRstructures, SGL Carbon SE, Sika Deutschland GmbH, Daimler AG, Walther Spritz- und Lackiersysteme GmbH, Lange+Ritter GmbH, Gibbons Fan Products Ltd, igus® GmbH, Peri GmbH, HERZOG Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG, AFBW – Allianz Faserbasierter Werkstoffe Baden-Württemberg e.V., Reinhausen Plasma GmbH, Reka Klebetechnik GmbH, HECO-Schrauben GmbH & Co. KG, Airtech Europe S.A., Mack Gerüsttechnik GmbH, RentES, Stahlbau Wendeler GmbH + Co. KG, CARU Containers GmbH, EmmeShop Electronics, STILL GmbH, SH-Elektrotechnik, GEMCO, Zeppelin Rental GmbH & Co. KG

LANDESGARTENSCHAU EXHIBITION HALL
Landesgartenschau Schwäbisch Gmünd, 2014

The Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall is an architectural demonstrator building and a showcase for the current developments in computational design and robotic fabrication for lightweight timber construction. Funded by the European Union and the state of Baden-Württemberg, the building is the first to have its primary structure entirely made of robotically prefabricated beech plywood plates. The newly developed timber construction offers not only innovative architectural possibilities; it is also highly resource efficient, with the load bearing plate structure being just 50mm thin. This is made possible through integrative computational design, simulation, fabrication and surveying methods.

The Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall was conceived at the University of Stuttgart as part of the »Robotics in Timber Construction« research project and realized in collaboration with Müllerblaustein Holzbau GmbH, Landesgartenschau Schwäbisch Gmünd 2014 GmbH, the forest administration of Baden-Württemberg (ForstBW) and KUKA Robotics GmbH. The project demonstrates the new opportunities that arise from the integration of computational design, simulation and fabrication methods for performative and resource efficient constructions made from the locally available and renewable resource wood. The building introduces an innovative, robotically fabricated lightweight timber plate construction system made of beech plywood. It was developed at the Institute for Computational Design (ICD, Prof. Achim Menges), the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE, Prof. Jan Knippers), and the Institute of Engineering Geodesy (IIGS, Prof. Volker Schwieger) and realized in collaboration with Müllerblaustein Holzbau GmbH. The building is part of the biannual Landesgartenschau, where it hosts an exhibition by ForstBW. The project was partly funded by the European Fund for Regional Development (ERDF) and »Forst und Holz« Baden-Württemberg as well as by the project partners.

Wood is one of the oldest building materials known to mankind. But the advent of novel robotic fabrication processes in conjunction with computational design, simulation, and surveying methods, offers entirely new design possibilities and fields of application. These form the basis for particularly performative and efficient constructions made from the locally available and renewable resource wood.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/landesgartenschau-exhibition-hall/

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PROJECT TEAM

ICD Institute for Computational Design
Prof. A. Menges (PI), Tobias Schwinn, Oliver David Krieg

ITKE Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design
Prof. J. Knippers, Jian-Min Li

IIGS Institute of Engineering Geodesy
Prof. Volker Schwieger, Annette Schmitt

Müllerblaustein Holzbau GmbH>
Reinhold Müller, Benjamin Eisele

KUKA Roboter GmbH
Alois Buchstab, Frank Zimmermann

Landesbetrieb Forst Baden-Württemberg
Sebastian Schreiber, Frauke Brieger

Landesgartenschau Schwäbisch Gmünd 2014 GmbH
Karl-Eugen Ebertshäuser, Sabine Rieger

PROJECT FUNDING

EFRE European Union
Clusterinitiative Forst und Holz Baden Württemberg
Landesgartenschau Schwäbisch Gmünd 2014 GmbH
müllerblaustein Bauwerke GmbH
KUKA Roboter GmbH
Landesbetrieb Forst Baden-Württemberg

PROJECT SUPPORT

Adler Deutschland GmbH
Autodesk GmbH
Carlisle Construction Materials GmbH
Fagus Stiftung
Gutex H. Henselmann GmbH & Co. KG
Hess & Co. AG
MPA–Materials Testing Institute, University of Stuttgart
Leitz GmbH & Co. KG
Spax International GmbH & Co. KG

ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILLON 2013-14

The Institute for Computational Design (ICD) and the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) of the University of Stuttgart have constructed another bionic research pavilion. The project is part of a successful series of research pavilions which showcase the potential of novel design, simulation and fabrication processes in architecture. The project was planned and constructed within one and a half years by students and researchers within a multi-disciplinary team of biologists, paleontologists, architects and engineers.

The focus of the project is a parallel bottom-up design strategy for the biomimetic investigation of natural fiber composite shells and the development of novel robotic fabrication methods for fiber reinforced polymer structures. The aim was the development of a winding technique for modular, double layered fiber composite structures, which reduces the required formwork to a minimum while maintaining a large degree of geometric freedom. Therefore, functional principles of natural lightweight structures were analyzed and abstracted in cooperation with the Institute of Evolution and Ecology and the department for Paleobiology of the University of Tübingen. Through the development of a custom robotic fabrication method, these principles were transferred into a modular prototype pavilion.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/icditke-research-pavilion-2013–14/

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PROJECT TEAM

ICD Institute for Computational Design–Prof. Achim Menges

ITKE Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design–Prof. Jan Knippers

Scientific Development:
Moritz Dörstelmann, Vassilios Kirtzakis, Stefana Parascho, Marshall Prado, Tobias Schwinn

Concept Development:
Leyla Yunis, Ondrej Kyjánek

System Development, Fabrication & Construction:
Desislava Angelova, Hans-Christian Bäcker, Maximilian Fichter, Eugen Grass, Michael Herrick, Nam Hoang, Alejandro Jaramillo, Norbert Jundt, Taichi Kuma, Ondrej Kyjánek, Sophia Leistner, Luca Menghini, Claire Milnes, Martin Nautrup, Gergana Rusenova, Petar Trassiev , Sascha Vallon, Shiyu Wie and Leyla Yunis
Hassan Abbasi, Yassmin Al-Khasawneh, Yuliya Baranovskaya, Marta Besalu, Giulio Brugnaro, Elena Chiridnik, Eva Espuny, Matthias Helmreich, Julian Höll, Shim Karmin, Georgi Kazlachev, Sebastian Kröner, Vangel Kukov, David Leon, Amanda Moore,Paul Poinet, Emily Scoones, Djordje Stanojevic, Andrei Stoiculescu, Kenryo Takahashi, Maria Yablonina and support of Michael Preisack and Michael Tondera

In collaboration with:

Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology of Invertebrates, University of Tübingen – Prof. Oliver Betz

Department of Geosciences, Palaeontology of Invertebrates, University of Tübingen – Prof. James Nebelsick

Module Bionics of Animal Constructions, University of Tübingen: Gerald Buck, Michael Münster, Valentin Grau, Anne Buhl, Markus Maisch, Matthias Loose, Irene Viola Baumann, Carina Meiser

ANKA/Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)–Dr. Thomas van de Kamp, Tomy dos Santos Rolo, Prof. Dr. Tilo Baumbach

Institute for Machine Tools, Universität Stuttgart – Dr.-Ing. Thomas Stehle, Rolf Bauer, Michael Reichersdörfer

Institute of Textile Technology and Process Engineering ITV Denkendorf – Dr. Markus Milwich

PROJECT SUPPORT

Competence Network Biomimetics
KUKA Roboter GmbH
SGL Group
Sika
AFBW–Allianz Faserbasierte Werkstoffe Baden-Württemberg

HYGROSKIN – METEOROSENSITIVE PAVILION
Permanent Collection, FRAC Centre Orleans, France

The project HygroSkin – Meteorosensitive Pavilion explores a novel mode of climate-responsive architecture. While most attempts towards environmental responsiveness heavily rely on elaborate technical equipment superimposed on otherwise inert material constructs, this project uses the responsive capacity of the material itself. The dimensional instability of wood in relation to moisture content is employed to construct a metereosensitive architectural skin that autonomously opens and closes in response to weather changes but neither requires the supply of operational energy nor any kind of mechanical or electronic control. Here, the material structure itself is the machine.

The travelling pavilion’s modular wooden skin is designed and produced utilizing the self-forming capacity of initially planar plywood sheets to form conical surfaces based on the material’s elastic behavior. Within the deep, concave surface of each robotically fabricated module a weather-responsive aperture is placed. Materially programming the humidity-responisve behaviour of these apertures opens up the possibility for a strikingly simple yet truly ecologically embedded architecture in constant feedback and interaction with its surrounding environment. The responsive wood-composite skin adjusts the porosity of the pavilion in direct response to changes in ambient relative humidity. These climatic changes – which form part of our everyday live but usually escape our conscious perception – trigger the silent, material-innate movement of the wooden skin. This subtle yet constant modulation of the relationship between the pavilion’s exterior and interior provides for a unique convergence of environmental and spatial experiences.

The project was commissioned by the FRAC Centre Orleans for its renowned permanent collection and was first shown in the exhibition »ArchiLab 2013 – Naturalizing Architecture« that opened on 14th of September 2013.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/hygroskin-meteorosensitive-pavilion/

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PROJECT TEAM

Achim Menges Architect, Frankfurt
Achim Menges, Steffen Reichert, Boyan Mihaylov
(Project Development, Design Development)

Institute for Computational Design, University of Stuttgart
Prof. Achim Menges, Oliver David Krieg, Steffen Reichert, David Correa, Katja Rinderspacher, Tobias Schwinn, Nicola Burggraf, Zachary Christian with Yordan Domuzov, Tobias Finkh, Gergana Hadzhimladenova, Michael Herrick, Vanessa Mayer, Henning Otte, Ivaylo Perianov, Sara Petrova, Philipp Siedler, Xenia Tiefensee, Sascha Vallon, Leyla Yunis
(Scientific Development, Detail Development, Robotic Fabrication, Assembly)

PROJECT FUNDING

FRAC Fonds Régional d’Art Contemporain du Centre
Robert Bosch Stiftung
Kiess GmbH
Cirp GmbH
Holzhandlung Wider GmbH

ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILION 2012

In November 2012 the Institute for Computational Design (ICD) and the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) at the University of Stuttgart have completed a research pavilion that is entirely robotically fabricated from carbon and glass fibre composites. This interdisciplinary project, conducted by architectural and engineering researchers of both institutes together with students of the faculty and in collaboration with biologists of the University of Tübingen, investigates the possible interrelation between biomimetic design strategies and novel processes of robotic production. The research focused on the material and morphological principles of arthropods’ exoskeletons as a source of exploration for a new composite construction paradigm in architecture.

At the core of the project is the development of an innovative robotic fabrication process within the context of the building industry based on filament winding of carbon and glass fibres and the related computational design tools and simulation methods. A key aspect of the project was to transfer the fibrous morphology of the biological role model to fibre-reinforced composite materials, the anisotropy of which was integrated from the start into the computer-based design and simulation processes, thus leading to new tectonic possibilities in architecture. The integration of the form generation methods, the computational simulations and robotic manufacturing, specifically allowed the development of a high performance structure: the pavilion requires only a shell thickness of four millimetres of composite laminate while spanning eight metres.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/icditke-research-pavilion-2012/

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PROJECT TEAM

ICD Institute for Computational Design–Prof. Achim Menges

ITKE Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design–Prof. Jan Knippers

Concept Development:
Jakob Weigele, Manuel Schloz

System Development and Realization:
Sarah Haase, Markus Mittner, Josephine Ross, Manuel Schloz, Jonas Unger, Simone Vielhuber, Franziska Weidemann, Jakob Weigele, Natthida Wiwatwicha with the support of Michael Preisack, Michael Tondera (Faculty of Architecture Workshop)

Scientific Development & Project Management:
Riccardo La Magna (structural design), Steffen Reichert (detail design), Tobias Schwinn (robotic fabrication), Frédéric Waimer (fibre composite technology & structural design)

In collaboration with:

University of Tuebingen
Departement of Evolutionary Biology of Invertebrates–Prof. Oliver Betz
Departement of Palaeontology of Invertebrates–Prof. James Nebelsick

ITV Denkendorf – Dr.-Ing. Markus Milwich

PROJECT SUPPORT

KUKA Roboter GmbH
Competence Network Biomimetics
SGL Group
Momentive
AFBW–Allianz Faserbasierte Werkstoffe Baden-Württemberg
FBGS Technologies GmbH
MFTech SARL
Minda Schenk Plastic Solutions GmbH
Stiftungen LBBW
Südwestbank AG
Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau AG

HYGROSCOPE – METEOROSENSITIVE MORPHOLOGY
Permanent Collection, Centre Pompidou, Paris

The project explores a novel mode of responsive architecture based on the combination of material inherent behaviour and computational morphogenesis. The dimensional instability of wood in relation to moisture content is employed to construct a climate responsive architectural morphology. Suspended within a humidity controlled glass case the model opens and closes in response to climate changes with no need for any technical equipment or energy. Mere fluctuations in relative humidity trigger the silent changes of material-innate movement. The material structure itself is the machine.

The project was commissioned by the Centre Pompidou Paris for its permanent collection and will be first shown in the exhibition »Multiversités Créatives« starting on 2nd of May 2012.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/hygroscope-meteorosensitive-morphology/

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PROJECT TEAM

Achim Menges Architect, Frankfurt
Prof. Achim Menges, Steffen Reichert, Boyan Mihaylov
(Project Development, Design Development)

Institute for Computational Design, University of Stuttgart
Prof. Achim Menges, Steffen Reichert, Nicola Burggraf, Tobias Schwinn with Claudio Calandri, Nicola Haberbosch, Oliver Krieg, Marielle Neuser, Viktoriya Nikolova, Paul Schmidt
(Design Development, Scientific Development, Robotic Fabrication, Assembly)

Transsolar Climate Engineering, Stuttgart
Thomas Auer, Daniel Pianka
(Climate Engineering)

PROJECT SUPPORT

Centre Pompidou Paris
Rubner Holding AG
Glasbau Hahn GmbH
Competence Network Biomimetics
Steelcase Werndl AG

ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILION 2011

In summer 2011 the Institute for Computational Design (ICD) and the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE), together with students at the University of Stuttgart have realized a temporary, bionic research pavilion made of wood at the intersection of teaching and research. The project explores the architectural transfer of biological principles of the sea urchin’s plate skeleton morphology by means of novel computer-based design and simulation methods, along with computer-controlled manufacturing methods for its building implementation. A particular innovation consists in the possibility of effectively extending the recognized bionic principles and related performance to a range of different geometries through computational processes, which is demonstrated by the fact that the complex morphology of the pavilion could be built exclusively with extremely thin sheets of plywood (6.5 mm).

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/icditke-research-pavilion-2011/

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PROJECT TEAM

Institute for Computational Design–Prof. Achim Menges

Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design–Prof. Jan Knippers

Concept & System Development:
Oliver David Krieg, Boyan Mihaylov

Detail Design & Fabrication & Construction:
Peter Brachat, Benjamin Busch, Solmaz Fahimian, Christin Gegenheimer, Nicola Haberbosch, Elias Kästle, Oliver David Krieg, Yong Sung Kwon, Boyan Mihaylov, Hongmei Zhai

Scientific Development:
Markus Gabler (project management), Riccardo La Magna (structural design), Steffen Reichert (detail design), Tobias Schwinn (project management), Frédéric Waimer (structural design)

PROJECT SUPPORT

KUKA Roboter GmbH
OCHS GmbH
Landesbetrieb Forst Baden-Württemberg (ForstBW)
KST2 Systemtechnik GmbH
Leitz GmbH & Co. KG
Stiftungen LBBW
Müllerblaustein Holzbau GmbH
Herrmann Rothfuss Bauunternehmung GmbH & Co.
Ullrich & Schön GmbH
Holzhandlung Wider GmbH & Co. KG

ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILION 2010

In 2010, the Institute for Computational Design (ICD) and the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) designed and constructed a temporary research pavilion. The innovative structure demonstrates the latest developments in material-oriented computational design, simulation, and production processes in architecture. The result is a bending-active structure made entirely of extremely thin, elastically-bent plywood strips.

Material computes. Any material construct can be considered as resulting from a system of internal and external pressures and constraints. Its physical form is determined by these pressures. However, in architecture, digital design processes are rarely able to reflect these intricate relations. Whereas in the physical world material form is always inseparably connected to external forces, in the virtual processes of computational design form and force are usually treated as separate entities, as they are divided into processes of geometric form generation and subsequent simulation based on specific material properties.

The research pavilion demonstrates an alternative approach to computational design: here, the computational generation of form is directly driven and informed by physical behavior and material characteristics. The structure is entirely based on the elastic bending behavior of birch plywood strips. The strips are robotically manufactured as planar elements, and subsequently connected so that elastically bent and tensioned regions alternate along their length. The force that is locally stored in each bent region of the strip, and maintained by the corresponding tensioned region of the neighboring strip, greatly increases the structural capacity of the system. In order to prevent local points of concentrated bending moments, the locations of the connection points between strips needs to change along the structure, resulting in 80 different strip patterns constructed from more than 500 geometrically unique parts. The combination of both the stored energy resulting from the elastic bending during the construction process and the morphological differentiation of the joint locations enables a very lightweight system. The entire structure, with a diameter of more than twelve meters, can be constructed using only 6.5 millimeter thin birch plywood sheets.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/de/projekte/icditke-research-pavilion-2010/

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PROJECT TEAM

Scientific Development:

Institute for Computational Design–Prof. Achim Menges
Moritz Fleischmann (Project Management)
Christopher Robeller (Detailing/Construction Management)
Karola Dierichs (Documentation)

Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design–Prof. Jan Knippers
Simon Schleicher (Project Management)
Julian Lienhard (Structural Engineering)
Diana Da Souza (Structural Engineering)

Concept & Realisation:
Andreas Eisenhardt, Manuel Vollrath, Kristine Waechter; with Thomas Irowetz, Oliver David Krieg, Admir Mahmutovic, Peter Meschendoerfer, Leopold Moehler, Michael Pelzer, Konrad Zerbe

PROJECT SUPPORT

OCHS GmbH
KUKA Roboter GmbH
Leitz GmbH & Co. KG
A. Woelm BAU GmbH
ESCAD Systemtechnik GmbH
Ministerium fuer Laendlichen Raum, Ernaehrung und Verbraucherschutz
Landesbetrieb Forst Baden-Wuerttemberg (ForstBW)

PATAGONIA SHELTER
Viewing Platform in the Quitralco Fjord

The project is a shelter and viewing platform located in an immaculate location on a mountain slope of Hacienda Quiltraco, which offers fantastic views of the Quitralco Fjord. The project consists of a generic platform on a raft foundation made from timber logs and planks and a shelter that consists of two ruled surfaces made from straight equal width timber planks. Ruled surfaces were chosen in response to the pre-manufacturing constraints of timber on site, the available construction means and the local knowledge in timber construction. A ruled surface is a surface that can be swept out by moving a line in space. This implies that such a surface can be constructed from straight elements, such as, in this case straight timber planks.

The aim was to demonstrate how from the application of a relatively simple building element and method a complex and beautiful form could arise that corresponds with the slopes of the mountains that frame the fjord. The two surfaces that make up the shelter are symmetrical and lean against one another. The combination of the weight of the surfaces and their flexible connection enabled resistance of the completed structure to the impact of the strong earthquakes of the region. At the end of the construction phase an earthquake at the scale of 5 on the Richter-scale occurred without consequences for the structure. The rotation points of the ruled surfaces shift along a curve in space resulting in a surface that seems to turn upon itself. This creates a raised opening where the two surfaces meet and the timber planks cantilever. Due to the north-south orientation of the shelter and the orientation of the opening to the south the Southern Cross can been seen through the opening at a specific time of the night.

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PROJECT TEAM

Emergent Technologies and Design, Architectural Association, London
Project Coordination: Michael Hensel, Juan Subercaseaux, Achim Menges, Michael Weinstock
Project Team: Maria Bessa, Bulut Cebeci, Christina Doumpioti, Andres Harris Aguirre, Elke Pedal Baertl, Defne Sunguroğlu, Manja Van de Word, Christy Widjaja

Engineering Consultants: Buro Happold Consulting Engineers