The Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) and the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) at the University of Stuttgart have completed a new research pavilion exploring building-scale fabrication of glass and carbon fibre-reinforced composites. The novel process is based on the unique affordances and characteristics of fibre construction. Because these materials are lightweight and have high tensile strength, a radically different approach to fabrication becomes possible, which combines low-payload yet long-range machines, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), with strong, precise, yet limited reach, industrial robots. This collaborative concept enables a scalable fabrication setup for long span fibre composite construction.  The research builds on a series of successful pavilions, which investigate integrative computational design, engineering and fabrication, and explores their spatial ramifications and construction possibilities. The project was designed and fabricated by students and researchers within an interdisciplinary team of architects, engineers and biologists. 
© Laurian Ghinitoiu

Architects: ICD-ITKE University of Stuttgart

Location: Stuttgart, Germany

Project Team: ICD Institute for Computational Design and Construction ? Prof. Achim Menges ; ITKE Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design ? Prof. Jan Knippers

Area: 40.0 m2

Project Year: 2017
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