Materializing hybridity in architecture: design to robotic production of multi-materiality in multiple scales

Abstract

Buildings consist of subsystems and components which have various functional and performance requirements. This inherent multiplicity demands the design and production of multi-material systems with varying and complementary properties and behaviours. This paper discusses a set of methods of digital design modelling and robotic production of hybridity in various architectural scales. In the case studies, the performance criteria serve as the underlying logic of the design and computation. The projects showcase how programmability and customizability of robotic manufacturing allow for establishing feedback loops from the production to design. Three projects are discussed in detail: a hybrid of flexible cork and rigid polystyrene, a hybrid of structural concrete with an intertwined permanent mould, and a hybrid of soft additively deposited silicone and subtractively produced hard foam. Each project has specific design performance criteria, with which a certain level of geometric complexity and variation is accomplished. Therefore, the research objective is to define and materialize the practical and robotically producible ranges of geometric complexities for each of the proposed methods. Additionally, the customization and development of robotic production setups are discussed. The research concludes that multi-materiality achieved through multimode robotic production methods introduces a higher, on-demand, and performance-driven resolution in building systems.

Exploring 3D printing techniques for the hybrid fabrication of discrete topology optimized structures

“…Here, the concept of hybridity not only expresses multi-materiality but also implies the use of varied digital fabrication methods. 17 This study explores the use of topology optimization techniques in the design and fabrication of discrete structures and investigates to which extent these optimized systems can be built using a hybrid approach combining 3D printing and analogue fabrication techniques. The first part of the study provides a method to convert continuum topologies obtained in MATLAB, 18 into discrete systems using a complementary parametric routine hosted in Rhino-Grasshopper (GH) visual scripting interface.…”

“…Here, the concept of hybridity not only expresses multi-materiality but also implies the use of varied digital fabrication methods. 17…”

Identifying enablers and relational ontology networks in design for digital fabrication

“…Summary of resources as the enablers from selected articles. ,15,37,38,40,41,47,46,45,43,53,52,50,49,54,62,61,60,59,58,57,56,64,69,68,67,66,65,70,71,73,74,78,80,[82][83][84][85][86][87] …”