Computational Circular Design

Computational Circular Design introduces students to the creative potential of computational design techniques for reusing building elements. Students will explore the design of discrete aggregation structures using parts sourced from a material bank. Emphasis is placed on non-destructive connections and minimal modifications to reused parts, ensuring future disassembly. Historic construction systems that addressed material scarcity — such as Philibert de L’Orme’s à petit bois or Japanese wood joinery — serve as the starting point for the investigation. The course aims to develop computational strategies that expand the architectural design space beyond collage-like approaches. Machine learning for the optimization of stock constrained components and computational combinatorics are the technological foundations.

The course focuses on teaching the application of computational tools as a creative technique in the context of reuse. It is designed to complement other courses that examine reuse from a large-scale architectural perspective or from fabrication and material sourcing viewpoints. In its first iteration the course will investigate the re-use of structural timber frames sourced from existing buildings.

• Quality education
• Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• Responsible consumption and production

In presence

Lectures provide the students with foundational knowledge on reuse construction systems for timber frame structures, timber frame connection detailing and historic examples. Furthermore the integration of the construction techniques into computational design setups is conveyed.

Exercises develop a proto-architectural structure (e.g., a wooden shelter) from conception to computational implementation. Students begin with a defined material stock from a material bank, recreating it as a physical 1:50 scale model. Drawing from historic and contemporary construction strategies presented in lectures and through physical experiments, students design their individual reuse solutions. The results of these experiments form the basis for the computational design implementation. The process is iterative, alternating between programming and model experimentation to refine the final intervention.

The design topic and material stock will vary each semester. The first semester focuses on the reuse of structural timber frames.

The exam will take the form of a presentation that consolidates the research and experiments conducted over the course of the semester.

• Presentation of project study with model
• Hand-in of presentation and supplementary files
• Grade: 50% project, 25% questions, 25% semester exercises
• Exercises and exam are concluded in groups of 2 students
• Semester exercises build towards the final hand-in