Reclaimed Wood Morphology

This studio focuses on the further development, prototyping, and fabrication of the ITECH Research Demonstrator, which will be constructed between the K1 and K2 university buildings during the summer. Building on the research and design investigations from the winter semester, this term shifts towards the realization of the project through iterative prototyping and full-scale fabrication.

A key focus of this semester is working with reclaimed timber as a primary material. This introduces specific challenges, including variable geometry, unknown material properties, and potential defects, which require adaptive design and fabrication strategies. Students will explore computational approaches to material sorting, processing, and assembly that respond to these uncertainties while ensuring structural performance and design integrity.

Beyond fabrication, the studio will emphasize multi-lifecycle design principles, particularly design for disassembly, allowing for future reuse and reconfiguration of the structure. Students will develop strategies for reversible connections, efficient material use, and lifecycle-aware construction methodologies.

Through hands-on prototyping, robotic fabrication, and on-site assembly, the studio provides experience in translating digital models into built structures while addressing the complexities of working with non-standard materials. The outcome of the semester will be the successful realization of the ITECH Research Demonstrator—an experimental timber structure that embodies circular design principles and showcases innovative applications of reclaimed materials in architecture.

Recommended basic knowledge of Rhinoceros and Grasshopper; basic knowledge of coding is a plus, but not a requirement. Interest in hands-on prototyping.