The Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD), and the Institute for Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) have developed a novel hybrid building system made from flax fibres and wooden panels, which aims to combine the effectiveness of bio-inspired fibrous structures with the ecological advantages of bio-based fibre materials. Enabled by advanced design computation and simulation as well as robotic fabrication processes, and based on design principles transferred from natural fibrous systems, this research opens up a new approach to fibre-reinforced composite structures in architecture as pursued by IntCDC.
As part of the exhibition “Technoscape – The architecture of engineers” at the MAXXI Museum in Rome, a full-scale prototype presents this significant step in the research of the two institutes. The large fibrous slab structure explores novel, bio-inspired and bio-based tectonics, which are at the same time materially efficient, ecologically sound, and architecturally expressive, and tell the story of deep interrelations between technology, biology, and culture.
Fibrous Tectonics: Towards Bio-based and Bio-Inspired Architecture
Fondazione MAXXI - Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo
Technoscape - The architecture of engineers, curated by Pippo Ciorra, Maristella Casciato, 01 October 2022 – 10 April, 2022
Please find a detailed project description and additional images here.