regrowth

Long description

“regrowth” explores the connection between computational design and the use of leftover materials within the wood and forestry industry. Through digital technologies, wood is viewed in its naturally grown form, rather than seeing it as a linear, standardized unit. The evolved geometries are closely studied and analyzed to take advantage of their formal and constructive properties. The use of digital fabrication and computational design tools create a dynamic system which adapts to constantly changing requirements.

Two approaches emerge from this system, each representing an extreme in the use of scrap wood. One is the use of the largest possible parts and the other uses of the smallest bits. They address the loss of valuable raw materials.

The “adaptation-table”s shape and construction is adapted to the naturally grown geometries of branches. Rather than chopping the branches, they are minimally invasive processes using digital tools and fabrication methods.

The “emergence-stool” refers to the loss that all wood processing involves – sawdust. Through the chipping process, the material loses all constructive and formal properties. Inspired by the cell growth of trees, the material gets rearranged by an algorithm.

The naturally grown form language, which often serves as inspiration for furniture designs, is not elaborately imitated, but consistently and sustainably taken from nature.

regrowth vividly demonstrates how the use of computational tools and digital manufacturing methods can be sensitively applied to the strategic use of leftover materials.

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