1 minute read
Dowel Laminated Timber Fabrication Design
Rhino + Grasshopper, CNC Milling
During a ‘locally fabricated’ studio conducted by MASS Principal Architect and Montana native Sarah Mohland, vernacular construction, and sourcing were researched to combat what we dubbed ‘fast architecture.’ After this stage, we attempted our scaled-down physical manifestation of lo-fab and its potential. To do this, I focused on the historic vernacular architecture of grain elevators in rural Montana, constructed using a method called ‘cribbing,’ which is the stacking of 2x4s. To attempt to re-invent this inherently beautiful method more sustainability, I sourced waste wood 2x4 scrap from a local truss factory, stacked them in a gradient pattern, and dowel laminated the resulting wall to connect them without carbon-intensive metal fasteners, making it easy to reconstruct. Finally, to add interest and bring it into the 21st century, CNC technology to intensified the gradient and bring depth. The result was an easyto-understand, carbon-negative lo-fab partition wall/rain screen.
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A consistant source of waste 2x4 material was identified at local truss manufacturing plant Kenyon Noble.
Trial + Error 01
Palletes are collected and disassembled to use as a material source. Due the time needed to remove the nails, the locally sourced waste material is deemed unusable.
Rhino + Grasshopper 03
Once dimensions of our material was decided, parametric design was used to play with possibilities at a faster page. Eventually, this led to exploration of CNC milling technology.
A template was created that allowed for a factory-like production of standardized pieces of 2x4. In addition, precise holes were drilled to allow for dowel lamination.
Kit of Parts 05
Combined with wooden dowels, the stud cutoffs formed a ‘kit of parts’ that could be easily assembled without glue or fasteners to a degree of customability.
Finishing 06
Once put together, the wall assembly was then drilled into plywood and placed back into the CNC to add aesthetic interest by playing with light and curves.
