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Framework for sustainable building design and construction using off-cut wood

Type

Architecture Design Research

Year

2021 – 2023

Keywords

Reclaimed Off-cut Wood
3D Scanning
Material Library
Structure Generation
Structural Assessment
Voxelization

Abstract

Irregularly shaped wood created as waste from construction is considered challenging to reuse because of its complicated geometry and a lack of well-defined design methods. Here, we propose a sustainable building design and construction framework as a systematic methodology for upcycling irregular off-cut wood into new components.

This framework consists of repeatable steps: a material reclamation system, where 3D scanning records each piece's geometry and material-specific parameters into a database; and a structural generation and assessment system, where material screening, voxel-based filling, and finite-element analysis optimize the structure prior to construction.

Using furniture, building components, and installations, we verify this framework for material recycling and generative design and construction.

SBDC framework, method, and workflow

The framework includes a material reclamation system (MRS), a structure generation and assessment system (SGAS), and fabrication.

Reclaimed wood database

Wood type, length, width, weight, approximate age, recycled grade, and material proportions are measured and recorded.

SGAS workflow at furniture scale — Stool generation

Voxel size definition, input voxel matrix, rotation mechanism, material rationalization, WFC prototypes, topology optimization, and the selected off-cut wood stools.

Stool assembly

Side and perspective views of the assembled stool, which maintains good structural integrity.

SGAS workflow at component scale — Column generation

Blue parts are structural horizontal voxels, green structural vertical, orange decorative horizontal, and red decorative vertical, through to assembly.

Column assembly

The column was assembled in the School of Architecture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Sustainable building proposal — The Primitive Hut

Voxelized pavilion prototype, WFC voxel prototype with exploded-view drawing, and the rendered proposal.