This research explores the optimization of glulam in architectural design by aligning material grading and grain orientation with force trajectories. Combining glulam offcuts and higher-grade timber, the study minimizes waste while maximizing structural efficiency. Computational workflows and generative algorithms are used to design force-aligned components for scalable applications. Prototypes demonstrate enhanced performance and sustainability, offering a circular, data-driven approach to timber construction that redefines material value in architecture.
Material insights
Unlike isotropic materials like steel, which behave uniformly in all directions, wood is anisotropic and orthotropic—its properties vary significantly based on fiber orientation. This makes understanding and designing for wood’s orthotropic nature crucial. For instance, raw logs cannot be relied upon for construction due to irregularities like knots and internal flaws. This challenge led to the development of engineered wood products, where lamellas are layered and bonded in controlled alignments. This process not only stabilizes the material but also ensures consistent mechanical performance and stronger components for construction.
State of the art
The evolution of engineered timber dates back to the 16th century, with glulam structures becoming prominent by the 20th century. Early glulam structures, like Karl Friedrich Otto’s arches, achieved spans of up to 100 meters in the 1960s.
Later innovations include:
- Frei Otto’s Multihalle, Mannheim, which utilized bending on-site to create shell structures.
- Solemar Baths, where stress line simulations guided the organization of glulam elements into organic forms.
- Metz Pompidou (Shigeru Ban), which applied computational design algorithms to optimize a lattice structure for load balance and curvature control.
- Nine Bridges (Blumer Lehmann AG), a prefabricated modular grid made of curved glulams shipped to Korea.
- Cambridge Mosque, where 145 unique glulam elements were derived from just 23 blank types, showcasing the efficiency of serial production.
- Tamedia Office (Shigeru Ban), which reinterpreted traditional Chinese joinery using rule-based algorithms.
These projects highlight a shared ambition: larger spans, lighter structures, and improved performance, while incorporating cultural aesthetics and innovative forms.
Advanced tools like robotic fabrication, 5-axis CNC machines, and topology optimization have unlocked new possibilities, enabling designs that were once too complex or costly to fabricate.
Proposal
Considering that:
- Timber is 10 times stronger along the grain,
- The glulam industry utilizes only 60% of harvested wood, and
- We now have technologies to mass-customize components and fully utilize materials
Research question
How to do it?
FEA for validation
This research has the potential to:
- Enhance material efficiency.
- Unlock new architectural opportunities.
- Reduce waste and embodied carbon in construction.
By strategically aligning grain orientation and leveraging advanced technologies, we can redefine what’s possible in glulam construction—pushing the boundaries of both structural performance and design innovation.
