The TRADA pavilion: A timber plate funicular shell

Harding, John; Lewis, Harri

Abstract

This paper describes the design and construction of the TRADA (Timber Research and Development Association) Pavilion by Ramboll Computational Design. The design process combined a zero-length spring funicular form-finding approach with a planar polygon discretisation method, thus enabling the final structurally efficient but complex geometric form to be realised with low-cost materials. The timber plate shell is fully demountable and has been assembled at several separate locations since being completed in September 2012. To the authors’ knowledge, the structure is one of the largest free-form facetted thin shell structures ever to be constructed. It is hoped that the project inspires a new approach in realising complex funicular shapes with low-cost materials and fabrication methods.

• Conference Name: International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) Symposium 2013
• Acceptance Date: Apr 6, 2013
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2013
• Deposit Date: Oct 10, 2016
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• ISBN: 9788374937870
• Keywords: funicular form-finding, timber shell, surface discretisation, planar remeshing, digital fabrication
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1436283
• Publisher URL: http://www.iass-structures.org/index.cfm/proceedings.index?pID=8
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) Symposium 2013
• Contract Date: Oct 10, 2016