AR fabrication | marginal design | AUG 2019

Augmented bending

Algorithmic design process in physical use

In the summer of 2019, I was invited to take part in the fabrication and construction of the "steampunk" pavilion in Tallinn, Estonia. The pavilion was meant for the Tallinn Architecture Biennale (TAB) and stood in front of the national architecture museum of Estonia for 2 years.

The structure is built from steam bent timber elements, using traditional crafting techniques and analogue tools augmented with the precision of holographic guides. The elements were prefabricated and assembled following holographic construction information viewed in augmented reality through the Microsoft HoloLens. The interesting thing is that not a single construction drawing was produced for the pavilion. Everything was constructed by following the holographic information and then nudged into shape with nuts and bolts. The project aims to expand the understanding of automated craft and production in the augmented age.

A collaboration of computational power to grasp complex geometries, human senses, hand-to-eye motoric, and overall empiric knowledge of crafting for the body.

The design bends, twists, and weaves standard lengths of hardwood and stainless steel into complex curving parts. There are 1092 meters of timber and 414 unique brackets in the structure and after assembling the parts on site, they were digitized and used in a digital reference model.