The Foundry

The Foundry was the introductory project for our course. In addition to introducing students to new fabrication skills, it served as a way for us to get to know one another. The structure’s skeleton was completed earlier as part of a robotics workshop, and our class was responsible for cladding the small building.
The main structure consists of three tree trunks acting as columns, supporting four cantilevered beams and a series of laminated components sculpted robotically. Our team completed the structure by extending the laminated components across a surrounding beam, developing a secondary structure and a roboticly-fabricated cladding system.
The development of the panels integrated an understanding of the material with both traditional fabrication techniques and strategies of robotic and computational manufacturing. To cover the structure, we used wooden panels joined together with dowels and covered with aluminum. Steel brackets articulated the original structure and the new cladding: walls, roof, and door.
My role within the team of ten was to coordinate the various teams, weld the metal components, assist in the fabrication of the laminated components, and build a system to automate the production of the panels and aluminum parts via CNC.
Initially designed for metallurgy, this building now houses a ceramic kiln. This project offered valuable experience in combining traditional craftsmanship with modern technological techniques, highlighting the potential of robotics in architectural fabrication.

Project Type: Architectural cladding and fabrication
Structure:
Three tree trunk columns
Four cantilevered beams
Roboticly sculpted laminated components
Materials Used:
Wood panels (connected with dowels)
Aluminum covering
Steel supports for articulation
Fabrication Techniques:
Traditional wood joinery
Robotic fabrication for sculpted components
CNC automation for panel and aluminum part production
Team Role:
Coordinating various teams
Welding metal components
Assisting with laminated component fabrication
Building automation system for CNC production
Current Use: Ceramic kiln

Students:

Wyatt Armstrong
Patrick Birch
Hassan Dinas
Omar Eqbal
Hilla Gordon
Luis Gil
Raza Kazim
Ciro Romer
Nasia Pantelidou
Shengning Zhang

Tutors:
Martin Self (Programme Director)
Zachary Mollica (Specialist Lecturer)
Jack Draper (Make Tutor)

Hooke Park Team:
Edward Coe (Technical Coordinator)
Charlie Corry Wright (Workshop Manager)
Jean-Nicolas Dackiw (Course Tutor Robotics Developer)
Christopher Sadd (Head Forester)