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Name of the submitted project or idea (in English or both English and your language)
ELEMENTerial bus stop
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URL of a video introducing the work（under 5 minutes）
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Detailed explanation of the submitted project or idea (in English or both English and your language)
The ELEMENTerial research project focuses on the development of an innovative design and construction system for Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) industry offcuts. CLT construction, while offering automation advantage, raises concerns about offcut waste, which constitute 5-10% of the material production in Estonian CLT timber industry. This research highlights the importance of aligning timber construction with circular economy principles by effectively utilising the offcuts. The study focuses on development of a design method, creating a versatile and holistic constructruction system that breaks away from traditional orthogonal designs. Algorithmic tools are employed to streamline the design process and to help to manage the complexities of working with smaller elements. The outcomes include a geometric strategy, offering variable configurations for assembly in walls, floors, ceilings and openings. The research demonstrates the potential to automate and pre-rationalize the design process, providing design freedom beyond orthogonal constraints and shell structures. The applications range from shelters to facade systems, building extensions to potentially large-scale building systems. This study offers environmental benefits and design flexibility in the construction industry. It holds a potential to guide the sector towards reduced waste and increased material efficiency, fostering sustainability and economic value from waste materials. Prospects for future research include further automation and the refinement of connection details and efficiency in material usage.
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How does your work address the 3 P’s (for Planet, for People, for Profit) for Sustainability?
The implications of this study on the environmental impact of CLT construction go beyond dealing with offcuts which, according to various sources constitute 5-20% of the produced material. The developed method can be used to produce building elements from regular panels rather than cutting out entire sections of walls and discarding the rest. Just as well this method can be used in combination, using the offcuts within the same project. Furthermore the standardised panels can be disassembled and reconfigured into new designs, contributing to the circular economy.
The economic implications could be realised on the side of the producer or the client likewise as the offcuts are already paid for by the client, making use of them, gets the client more for their money. Developing new products that make use of residues, could turn waste into resources at the same time. According to Arcwood by Peetri Puit export manager Raido Peedomaa CLT offcuts are sold at a quarter of the original price, which leaves ample room for additional processing cost to be economically viable.
The applicability of these research outcomes are used in real-world scenarios, including standalone structure or building elements in multi-storey buildings, such as facade systems. Compared to previous studies, the proposed system has advantages in design freedom of the overall geometry, automated algorithmic design system and fabrication method.
The future challenges and limitations of this system lie in the further automation of the design and manufacture process and further development of connection details, in order to reduce the amount of screws introduced. The research has a high potential in large scale to guide the architecture, engineering and construction industry towards reduction of residues and higher efficiency in material usage. -
Where (country, region, etc.) have you primarily carried out your project?
Estonia
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What is the timeline your project has taken place over?
2020-2021
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Keywords
CLT offcuts, CLT upcycling, prefabricated architecture, timber architecture, algorithmic architecture
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If you have a website for your submitted project or idea, please provide the URL
https://pakk.artun.ee/projects-1/elementary-buss-stop-product-development-of-cross-laminated-timber-manufacturing-residue
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If you have a social media account for your submitted project or idea, please provide the URL
https://www.instagram.com/eka_pakk/
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Special Prize Question 1: Is there a mechanism in place to inherit culture and industry as assets for people living in that area 100 or even 1000 years from now?
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Special Prize Question 2: What is the positive impact on biodiversity? Is the project creating a cycle not just from a human-centered perspective but for the entire ecosystem?
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Special Prize Question 3: Are you enabling new forms of collaboration with others? New forms of collaboration might include cross-industry cooperation, co-creation with consumers, or role transformations within the supply chain.
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ELEMENTerial
The ELEMENTerial research project focuses on the development of an innovative design and construction system for Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) industry offcuts. CLT construction, while offering automation advantage, raises concerns about offcut waste, which constitute 5-10% of the material production in Estonian CLT timber industry. This research highlights the importance of aligning timber construction with circular economy principles by effectively utilising the offcuts. The study focuses on development of a design method, creating a versatile and holistic constructruction system that breaks away from traditional orthogonal designs. Algorithmic tools are employed to streamline the design process and to help to manage the complexities of working with smaller elements. The outcomes include a geometric strategy, offering variable configurations for assembly in walls, floors, ceilings and openings. The research demonstrates the potential to automate and pre-rationalize the design process, providing design freedom beyond orthogonal constraints and shell structures. The applications range from shelters to facade systems, building extensions to potentially large-scale building systems. This study offers environmental benefits and design flexibility in the construction industry. It holds a potential to guide the sector towards reduced waste and increased material efficiency, fostering sustainability and economic value from waste materials. Prospects for future research include further automation and the refinement of connection details and efficiency in material usage.
