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IAAC · MRAC · ACADEMIC · RESEARCH · FAB LAB · DESIGN

Raw-Edge Timber Facade

Repurposing Wood Offcuts with Computational Design & Robotic Fabrication

Context
IAAC · MRAC — Academic Research
Role
Researcher / Designer
Year
2024
Practice
RESEARCH · FAB LAB · DESIGN
Location
Barcelona, Spain
Status
COMPLETED
Tiny-home pavilion clad in raw-edge timber slabs in a forest clearing

Overview

Europe holds a large overstock of small, often crooked trees (10–25cm diameter) unsuitable for standard timber use — an opportunity to build with sawmill waste. This research (RELIVING) focuses on robotic fabrication that transforms raw-edge logs and slab wood into customisable, cost-effective material for the growing tiny-homes market and self-shading facade systems. A packing algorithm matches raw material to design with minimal cutting, minimising waste and demonstrating a sustainable, efficient production method.

Full fabrication documentation board of the raw-edge system
Robotic processing of raw-edge logs and slabs
Packing algorithm matching offcuts to the facade design
Assembled raw-edge timber facade modules

Awards

  • Best Paper Award — DigitalFUTURE: Computational Design and Robotic Fabrication 2025

Publications

  • Repurposing Raw Edge Wood Offcuts Waste for Facade Covering with Minimal Cutting — Computational Design and Robotic Fabrication 2025, DigitalFUTURE (First Author)

Links