Gramazio Kohler Research
News
Teaching
Research
Projects
Publications
About
Team
Open Positions
Contact
Compas XR
Compas FAB
Compas cadwork
Impact Printing
Compas Timber
AIXD: AI-eXtended Design
AI-Augmented Architectural Design
AR Timber Assemblies
Architectural Design with Conditional Autoencoders
Integrated 3D Printed Facade
Think Earth SP7
Robotic Plaster Spraying
Additive Manufactured Facade
Human-Machine Collaboration
Timber Assembly with Distributed Architectural Robotics
Eggshell Benches
Eggshell
CantiBox
Autonomous Dry Stone
RIBB3D
Data Driven Acoustic Design
Mesh Mould Prefabrication
Data Science Enabled Acoustic Design
Thin Folded Concrete Structures
FrameForm
Adaptive Detailing
Deep Timber
Robotic Fabrication Simulation for Spatial Structures
Jammed Architectural Structures
RobotSculptor
Digital Ceramics
On-site Robotic Construction
Mesh Mould Metal
Smart Dynamic Casting and Prefabrication
Spatial Timber Assemblies
Robotic Lightweight Structures
Mesh Mould and In situ Fabricator
Complex Timber Structures
Spatial Wire Cutting
Robotic Integral Attachment
Mobile Robotic Tiling
YOUR Software Environment
Aerial Construction
Smart Dynamic Casting
Topology Optimization
Mesh Mould
Acoustic Bricks
TailorCrete
BrickDesign
Echord
FlexBrick
Additive processes
Room acoustics
Prototype: Zollinger system

Space frame scheme with expanded nodes

Additive Robotic Fabrication of Complex Timber Structures, Zurich, 2012-2017
NRP 66 Research Project
In view of a worldwide shortage of energy resources and an increasing concern about climate change, this research project aims at a radically advanced application of timber as a structural material in particular consideration of economic and ecologic criteria. In this respect, the project researches a highly integrated digital design and fabrication process for timber. It examines the next logical step in timber prefabrication by introducing robotic assembly instead of traditional manual joining or automation of parts. Key to this approach is the underlying notion that complex timber-derived structures can be built up from very simple parts of softwood – most commonly perceived as low-grade or even waste material. The precise and efficient robotic assembly permits the folding of small parts into complex, robust and lightweight structures using material very economically.

The project is part of the SNSF National Research Programme “Resource Wood“ (NRP 66) and is conducted in collaboration with the Bern University of Applied Sciences Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineering.

Complex Timber Structures from Simple Elements (PhD Thesis)
Design and structural analysis of complex timber structures (Paper)
Robotic timber construction (Paper)
Additive robotic fabrication of complex timber structures (Paper)

Credits:
Gramazio Kohler Research, ETH Zurich

In cooperation with: Prof. Eduard Bachmann (BFH-AHB), Prof. Dr. Christophe Sigrist (BFH-AHB)
Research programme: National Research Programme 66 of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)
Collaborators: Anna Aleksandra Apolinarska (project lead phase 2), Michael Knauss (project lead phase 1), Dr. Volker Helm, Dr. Thomas Kohlhammer
Industry partner: Nolax AG

Copyright 2024, Gramazio Kohler Research, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Gramazio Kohler Research
Chair of Architecture and Digital Fabrication
ETH Zürich HIB E 43
Stefano-Franscini Platz 1 / CH-8093 Zurich

+41 44 633 49 06
Follow us on:
Vimeo | Instagram