A student's project get realized
Architecture and Civil Engineering students design and build together in wood
The semester project in timber design PolyWood, led by Prof. Gero Quasten and Prof. Kay-Uwe Schober from Mainz University of Applied Sciences, became a major project that extended over the holidays into the new semester. The students Lara Fahroß, Joana Ferreira, Esther Saweljew and Jana Schmidt quickly realized that many hurdles had to be overcome in order to be able to create a feasible structure from their idea called "wowood", awarded with the first prize of the student's competition in timber design.
Concept, static concerns, choice of materials, coordination of various suppliers and service providers, craftsmanship and much more needed to be considered. But after a lot of effort and the support of our project partners and fellow campaigners, an impressive, walkable construction has been created. Many thanks at this point to all those have been involved and our supporters.
Objectives
- Polymer: As part of the educational Polymer path at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, a station shall be developed. Lignin as a component of wood is discussed as a natural polymer. Wood as a building material plays a crucial role in a sustainable construction revolution. With its ability to bind atmospheric carbon dioxide in the tree's growth process, it can make a significant contribution to climate-friendly construction.
- Polyvalent: The aim was to illustrate and convey the performance of wood in a striking way. The essential aspects of supporting, enveloping and insulating in the construction of buildings had to be integrated. Wood as a diverse, high-performance and sustainable material had to be shown in it's many facets.
- PolyWood - 100% wood: The diverse uses of wood had to be demonstrated, among other things, by dispensing with other building materials.
- Reuse or recycle: As an exemplary project, a completely demountable, regenerative construction is to be created here that is in no way inferior to its conventional comparable objects.
- Interdisciplinary: The areas of architecture, civil engineering and implementation are to be developed in close cooperation.
Methods
- Interdisciplinary exchange of ideas, work and results between Bachelor's students of Architecture and Civil Engineering with teaching focus on timber design and construction.
- Consistent digital processes have now become standard in timber construction. BIM-based data is read into CAD/CAM systems such as fully automated joinery systems, and computer-controlled milling machines enable geometrically complex connection methods.
- The assembly process on site is reduced to a minimum. In a highly integrated process, individual disciplines can no longer be sensibly separated from one another. Digital tools and shared data models are to enable smooth exchange.
- A foundation was provided, the further construction was to dispense with other materials, and all construction and connecting elements had to be made of timber (if possible).
Stats
Partner:
Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Gero Quasten with his students, 5th/6th semester Architecture (1)
Prof. Dr. Kay-Uwe Schober with his students, timber class, 5th/6th semester Civil Engineering (2)
Prof. Dr. Katharina Landfester and Ulrike Schneider (3)
Karim El Batanony and Claudius Gessner (4)
Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Stephan Bertagnolli (5)
Dipl.-Ing. Helge Kunz (6)
(1) Hochschule Mainz - University of Applied Sciences, Department of Architecture
(2) Hochschule Mainz - University of Applied Sciences, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
(3) Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Department Physical Chemistry of Polymers
(4) lignum³ zimmerei u. schreinerei GmbH, Mainz
(5) Rotho Blaas Deutschland GmbH
(6) Renggli Deutschland GmbH
Duration: March 2021 – September 2021
Contact: Prof. Dr. Kay-Uwe Schober
