Promoting experimentation and integrated design process through the exploration of the steam bending technique in wood: Essay F8 challenging orthogonality

Abstract

Due to the lack of experimentation with wood on a real scale, which is needed to generate design proposals and discuss aesthetic, spatial, and structural alternatives in a multidisciplinary way. An experimental workshop for architecture and engineering students was developed. To integrate design modeling, and fabrication, using the wood steam bending technique. It was explored following a collaborative methodology. The main results obtained included conceptualization sessions, prototyping, physical and digital modeling, and development of work strategies (base plan, scaffolding, production, assembly, iteration, adjustments, and detailing) until the proposal scope met the expectations. From this workshop, remains the challenge of converting empirical knowledge into more precise work parameters. The need to complement the design phases with parametric software modeling, structural analysis, and fabrication methods to open new teaching possibilities was identified.