ITECH Research Pavilion 2024 features a timber-fibre hybrid system

ITECH Research Pavilion 2024 at the University of Stuttgart is an extraordinary look into the future of innovative architecture, combining bio-based materiality with advanced fabrication techniques.

Led by the Institute for Computational Design and Construction, along with the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design, the project makes use of a truly singular system that had never been tried before, which can actually combine the compressive strength of timber with the tensile properties of natural fibers. “The hybrid system advances material innovation and enables new possibilities in sustainable construction,” says Prof. Achim Menges, one of the key persons in its development.

Construction

The pavilion stands to remind one of the evolution in architecture as a way of solving environmental problems. The construction industry relies greatly on synthetic materials, which have grossly contributed to resource depletion in recent decades. The pavilion focuses on renewable material resources like timber and flax fibres. This integrated system uses these two natural materials to come up with a structure that is not only sensitive to the environment but also highly performative. As Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jan Knippers puts it: “Our aim is to develop regenerative systems that improve the environment, rather than simply minimize harm.”

What really made this project stand out was the fabrication process: a dual-robotic construction method was employed. Timber provided the supportive frame for natural fibers being wound by two industrial robots working in collaboration with each other. “The dual robotic setup allows evenly distributing tension across timber struts for structural integrity,” says one of the ITECH researchers.

Structure

The use of timber in modern architecture is becoming increasingly popular due to the potential for low environmental impact, since it can store carbon. But this increasing demand is starting to stress local supplies of wood. The pavilion presents a more diversified approach toward biomaterial usage, as in addition to the timber used throughout construction, fast-growing flax fibers are incorporated into its design.

The innovative structural design of this pavilion is also revolutionary. Compressed by timber, the fibers act like tensioned cables, creating a light yet stable framework that can support expansion both horizontally and vertically, versatile and adaptable for different architectural forms. Rebeca Duque Estrada of the design team described it: “This is not just a pretty structure; it’s about forces intelligently distributed between materials.”

It will not only be an architectural experiment, but rather one more step in the direction of sustainable design concerning the use of bio-based hybrid systems. Traditional materials are combined with advanced digital fabrication techniques; this pavilion stands as a benchmark to how future architecture can shape up in order to meet the demands of sustainability without compromising on innovation.

Project Info

Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) – Team Leads: Rebeca Duque Estrada, Fabian Kannenberg, Prof. Achim Menges
Institute for Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) – Team Leads: Tzu-Ying Chen, Yanan Guo, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jan Knippers
Concept & System Development – ITECH Class of 2024: Kalaivanan Amudhan, Hamed Behmanesh, Clara Blum, Ya?mur Bulut, Cornelius Carl, Paula Castel, Minghui Chen, Luisa Claus, Matthias Hornung, Che Chen Hu, Mohammad Mahdi Jafari, Simon Joller, Donghwi Kang, Arindam Katoch, Niki Kentroti, Rabih Koussa, Otto Lindstam, Luiza Longo, Samuel Losi, Laura Marsillo, Gonzalo Muñoz Guerrero, Kumaraguru Rangaraj Venkatachalam, Markus Renner, Seyedehgelareh Sanei, Jonathan Schill, Zahra Shakeri, Shirin Shevidi, Ceren Tüfek, Aysima Yavuz, Ali Zolfaghari
Robotic Fabrication – ITECH Class of 2024: Kalaivanan Amudhan, Hamed Behmanesh, Clara Blum, Ya?mur Bulut, Cornelius Carl, Paula Castel, Luisa Claus, Che Chen Hu, Mohammad Mahdi Jafari, Simon Joller, Donghwi Kang, Niki Kentroti, Otto Lindstam, Luiza Longo, Samuel Losi, Laura Marsillo, Gonzalo Muñoz Guerrero, Kumaraguru Rangaraj Venkatachalam, Zahra Shakeri, Shirin Shevidi, Ceren Tüfek, Aysima Yavuz, Ali Zolfaghari
Technical Support: Philip Duncan, Sven Hänzka, Harrison Hildebrandt, Renan Prandini, Michael Preisack, Michael Schneider, Katja Rinderspacher, Christoph Zechmeister
Student Assistants: YuLun Chiu, Kai-Jie Kwang, Nicolas Pousa
Funding and Partners: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), ARRTSM, Safilin, University of Stuttgart, Cluster of Excellence Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture (IntCDC)