Bitmap-driven Parametric Wall for Robotic Fabrication

Abstract

With the emergence of novel tectonics in architecture and as a result of the ongoing advancements in digital modeling, the robotic fabrication is rapidly gaining popularity within the building construction industry. This paper presents a proposal for an adaptive and flexible design system that facilitates the design and production processes of complex geometry walls. The system allows for intuitive control of parametric design configurations whilst providing an easy-to-use code for robotic fabrication. The paper describes the workflow of a digital design and fabrication experiment: a double curved parametric wall designed and realized out of individual, stackable EPS (expanded polystyrene) elements. The example illustrates how the workflow is customizable, allowing the user to manipulate the wall design in a feedback loop method. The continuously varying geometry is driven by a bitmap pattern that defines the aesthetics of the external wall surface and potentially optimizes the building performances from a structural and energetic standpoint. The paper subsequently anticipates the future development of the research in terms of mechanical cutting tools, material component behavior, fabrication constraints, and their associated impact on building geometry and design.