In cooperation with the seminar "Circular Strategies" LV-Nr. S03525, this seminar addresses issues of sustainable building with a focus on the (digital) fabrication of circular economy / circular design concepts.
To study the challenges of reuse and to train the engagement with distinct stock elements to be activated as architectural constituents, students will start working with natural wooden elements as construction material.
Based on methods developed in the research project “Conceptual Joining”, we will develop design strategies to create aggregated structures.
Some of the developed toolsets and workflows will be available  to allow a direct entry into a productive design environment. We will start with natural branches in analogy to the previous research, but the aim is to develop distinct individual concepts that may include additional or different materials and components.

Workflows include
• 3D scanning
• automated geometry processing
• 3D modeling and algorithmic design (Grasshopper)
• (Digital)fabrication of mock ups, possibly including an experimental
method for realization using an AR device, developed in Conceptual
Joining (tbc)

Students who want to take part in this course need to sign up for "Circular Strategies" LV-Nr. S03525 (Lukas Allner) as well and will receive both credits after a successful term.

Weekly meetings for feedback, input lectures, and tutorials.

The seminar also includes a study trip to a forest in Thernberg, and workshop sessions focusing on different aspects of the workflow and introducing a set of (digital)tools.

A realization of a prototypical object by the end of the term (or a larger structure in September) as well as a documentation of the individual process over the course of the semester have to be submitted to be eligible for grading.

The actual fabrication (scale and date) will depend on the individual concepts/designs developed during the course. 

Students should be proficient in the 3D-modeling Software Rhinoceros and be able to work independently on a high level between the sessions.
Knowledge in Grasshopper 3D is recommended.
Basic knowledge of state-of-art digital fabrication machinery is helpful.
Participants are kindly asked to use their own computers and software.

Max. 20 participants (teamwork is encouraged, but individual work is possible if preferred, priority is given to students of architecture, who did not participate in the course yet. )

The course is already full, all new registrations will move to the waiting list.