The design , fabrication and assembly of an asymptotic timber gridshell

• This paper describes and discuss the design, fabrication and assembly of an asymptotic gridshell built of plywood laths. The overall question concerns how geometry, structural action, and ecient production can interplay and inform spatial design. The environment is a two-day workshop where architects, engineers and researchers with specialization in structural and digital design cooperate with undergraduate students in a compulsory parametric design and digital fabrication course. The gridshell shape is based on an Enneper surface of threefold rotational symmetry with a boundary baseplate inscribed within a circle of 4.5 m in radius. Utilizing the concept of asymptotic curves, which are surface curves whose osculating plane coincides with the tangent plane of the surface, the structure was built using planar straight laths of plywood made using manually operated drills and saws.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Arkitekturteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Architectural Engineering (hsv//eng)

HUMANIORA  -- Konst -- Arkitektur (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Arts -- Architecture (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Matematik -- Geometri (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Mathematics -- Geometry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

structures

timber

active bending

Gridshell

parametric design

education

Differential geometry

Publication and Content Type

kon (subject category)

ref (subject category)