CODE Facades- Collaborative Design of the Prefabricated Wood Facade Systems

Abstract

CoDeFa is an applied research project between Institute Integrative Design (currently ICDP) HGK FHNW and ERNE AG Holzbau that introduces three innovations in the industrial setup that result in the integrated design-to-production process of individualized, cost-efficient and well-crafted prefabricated wood façades. Through collaborative design approach (1) architect, engineer and manufacturer start exchange on the early stage of the architectural project. Digital design and fabrication tools (2) enable architects to generate a large scope of façade variations within production feasibility of the manufacturer, as well as engineers to prepare files for robotic production. Novel multi-robot fabrication processes, developed with the industrial partner, allows for complex façade assembly. Lastly, the project contributes to the concept of digital craftsmanship, manifested in a mixed fabrication system, which intelligently combines automated and manual production to obtain economic feasibility and highest aesthetic quality.