Parametric design and multirobotic fabrication of wood facades

The paper describes the findings of the applied research project by Institute Integrative Design (currently ICDP) HGK FHNW and ERNE AG Holzbau to design and manufacture prefabricated wooden façades in the collaborative design manner between architects and industry. As such, it is an attempt to respond to the current interdisciplinary split in the construction, which blocks innovation and promotes standardized inefficient building solutions. Within this project, we apply three innovations in the industrial setup that result in the integrated design-to-production process of individualized, cost-efficient and well-crafted façades. The collaborative design approach is a method in which architect, engineer and manufacturer start exchange on the early stage of the project during the collaborative design workshops. Digital design and fabrication tools enable architects to generate a large scope of façade variations within production feasibility of the manufacturer and engineers to prepare files for robotic production. Novel multi-robot fabrication processes, developed with the industrial partner, allows for complex façade assembly. This paper introduces the concept of digital craftsmanship, manifested in a mixed fabrication system, which intelligently combines automated and manual production to obtain economic feasibility and highest aesthetic quality. Finally, we describe the design and fabrication of the project demonstrator consisting of four intricate façades on a modular office building, inspired by local traditional solutions, which validate the developed methods and highlight the architectural potential of the presented approach.