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Folded plates made from timber panels Yves Weinand
Folded plate structures are fascinating constructions, where form and structure are inextricably linked to one another. Folded panels are also able to assume many different forms. By folding timber, these structures acquire a high level of rigidity, despite the fact that the material strength remains reduced in relation to the span. Furthermore, this material allows filigree structures that are also economical.
Thus far, structures made of folded wooden panels could not be implemented. Formwork structures made of reinforced concrete were already being designed and executed in the 1930s. At that time, the construction of identical, prefabricated prismatic supports was significant, as it minimized the cost of timber shuttering. Structures made completely from folded timber panels were being developed in the 1970s. However, this concept was not pursued any further. In this essay, we will look at possible ways that folded timber panel structures might establish themselves in the marketplace. To illustrate the concept, three p rojects will be presented to highlight the possible development of these structures. In each project, form-related, mechanical, and production-related aspects are highlighted. As already mentioned, folding structures have the ability to torsion form and structure. Experimenting with relatively soft, large surfaces or panels is made possible by combining the panels along their edges, in “wrinkles” or folds. The geometric manipulation of the folds and the “freezing” of a certain arbitrarily chosen
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14 Folded plate structures