Nabucco Opera: Timber Spiral Structure

This lecture explores the innovative timber spiral structure of the Nabucco Opera in Lausanne Cathedral, showcasing the use of interconnected timber elements and wood-wood joinery to create a segmented spiral with a unique geometry. The presentation covers the design process, from the initial low poly mesh model to the final assembly on site, highlighting the use of Rhinoceros 3D for geometric generation and the open nest grasshopper add-on for plate nesting. The structure, composed of 29 timber boxes suspended by cables, demonstrates advanced CNC machining techniques for cutting, drilling, and engraving the timber plates, resulting in a visually striking and structurally sound architectural installation.