BIRCH BARK BUILDING MATERIAL

The constructive experiment of the facade cladding with birch bark will be evaluated in the coming weather periods by monitoring the wood and room humidity with the TU Braunschweig (Prof. Mike Sieder, Institute of Building Construction and Timber Engineering and Prof. Elisabeth Endres, Institute of Building Climatics and Energy of Architecture, Prof. Helga Blocksdorf, Institute of Building Construction). This is about the comparison of calculation model, simulation and actually measured values in the annual cycle, which can integrate the construction approach 'birch bark on wood' without additional component layering into the valid standard frameworks - with simultaneous questioning - in the future. The aim of the investigation of the bark behavior is to expand the variety of constructions with regional and renewable raw materials. Research Team: Moritz Scheible and Linda Gehrke, Images © Ruben Beilby

CONSTRUCTIVE DISOBEDIENCE

Constructive Disobedience focus on methods for constructive experimentation and knowledge production through singular and particular architectural projects. The conference invites architects, engineers, manufacturers and crafts- people to present a specific insight into their constructive experiments and to engage in exchange. The aim is to find instructions for action—dispositivi—on how we can enable constructive experimentation from the core of the profession, understand it methodically, establish it as design research and thus bring it into recognition academically and on the building site. The conference is convieved by Matthias Ballestrem, Katharina Benjamin and Helga Blocksdorf.

BREATHABLE CONSTRUCTION

What does the building of tomorrow look like that creates a pleasant climate for its users, uses resources sparingly and at the same time remains economically sensible, so that we can achieve a new building standard away from the classic composite thermal insulation system? What historical, political and social events have brought about the current state of the building industry? Within these questions, we investigate whether breathable construction can make a contribution to an architectural turnaround, look at new design potentials and search for an architectural expression that is contemporary with regard to the influence of new construction on people and nature. Research Team: Pia Brückner and Lina Thürer, Seminar by Till Zihlmann in collaboration with Prof. Elisabeth Endres, Images © Phillip Nünning, Albert Papenhausen Fuster

EXPLORATIVE TEACHING & ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

The building sector is facing disruptive developments. As a consequence of the climate crisis, prevailing practices, technologies and materials are fundamentally questioned. Innovations in material science, robotic fabrication and computer based planning could lead a way to a carbon-free, sustainable and affordable future of architecture. However, the impact of inventions depends significantly on their implementation in the design thinking process. Therefore we started the development of a program on explorative teaching in winter 2021. In cooperation with the ITE (Institute for structural design) we elaborate on the current research projects of additive manufacturing (AM). The idea is, to incorporate highly innovative production methods of AM into the building design process from the very beginning and, subsequently, reflect the architectural conclusions into the scientific spectrum. Explorative teaching aims to establish a process from element to building structure and vice versa. The holistic questions asked during the course of an architectural conception alter the perspective within the research work of additive manufacturing. We observe a simultaneous approach from opposing points of view, merging in next-level research results and exceptional architectural designs. Images © Ruben Beilby