Robot-manufactured joints for a curved-folded thin-shell CLT structure

The "Curved-folded Wood Pavilion" utilizes the technique of curved folding for the design of a thin-shell structure built from curved cross-laminated timber panels (CLT). The curved-folded geometry allows the structure to span over 13.5 m, at a shell thickness of only 77 mm. The construction required curved line CLT joints, which are difficult to address with state-of-the-art jointing techniques for CLT. Inspired by traditional woodworking joinery, we have developed robot-fabricated connections for the integrated attachment of curved CLT panels, utilizing digital geometry processing tools to combine the advantages of traditional joinery techniques with those of modern automation technology.