CURVED GLULAM ARCHITECTURE DESIGN OPTIMISATION FOR LOW-TECH CONSTRUCTION: The Fabrication and Construction of KATENARA

Nichol Long Hin Wong, Kristof Crolla, June Hao Hou, Pei Hsien Hsu, Yu Tung Cheng

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper reports on the research findings from the fabrication and construction of "KATENARA", a prototypical, hyper-lightweight, wooden pavilion built in the Dongshi Forestry Cultural Park, Dongshi, Taiwan in November 2023. KATENARA uses a suspended roof structure system optimised for low-tech production from glue-laminated (glulam) timber. The pavilion’s geometry is based on near-catenary-shaped glulam beams that are evolutionary algorithmically optimised for manufacture from a single mould. Structures based on suspended beam geometries substantially reduce material needs when compared with those relying on straight beams, as catenary beams operate in pure tension throughout, avoiding inefficient neutral fibres along the centreline and removing risk of buckling. Yet, their manufacture from glulam typically requires costly bespoke individual hardware setups. Shape optimisation for fabrication efficiencies substantially increases the tectonic system's applicability, as it facilitates more affordable implementation in low-tec fabrication environment.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAccelerated Design - 29th International Conference on Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia, CAADRIA 2024
EditorsNicole Gardner, Christiane M. Herr, Likai Wang, Hirano Toshiki, Sumbul Ahmad Khan
PublisherThe Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia
Pages181-190
Number of pages10
ISBN (Print)9789887891833
StatePublished - 2024
Event29th International Conference on Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia, CAADRIA 2024 - Singapore, Singapore
Duration: 20 Apr 202426 Apr 2024

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International Conference on Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia
Volume3
ISSN (Print)2710-4257
ISSN (Electronic)2710-4265

Conference

Conference29th International Conference on Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia, CAADRIA 2024
Country/TerritorySingapore
CitySingapore
Period20/04/2426/04/24

Keywords

  • Affordable Construction
  • Catenary
  • Evolutionary Algorithm
  • Gluelaminated Timber
  • Low-tech
  • Timber Shell

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