A couple of architects in Japan have been working on combining traditional Japanese joinery methods with modern fabrication and materials, to create a process for building modular structures without the need for additional means of fastening.
As a display of their patented “Tsuginote junction” system, Kei Atsumi and Nicholas Préaud have built the Tsuginote Tea House, which can be seen in the image below.
The pavilion’s more than 900 unique double-curved pieces were 3D printed with wood-based PLA filament on the outside of the panels, an insulating filament on the inside, and assembled without the need for glue or metal hardware, in keeping with Japanese tradition. . carpentry methods. His initial phase of research in architecture and building systems was significantly inspired by and furthered the traditional Japanese Tsugite and Shiguchi assembly methods used for frame structures.
The pavilion design incorporates Japanese woodwork with compact 3D printing technology, promoting a shift from a massive structure-oriented to a module-oriented system. The study highlights the potential of 3D printing technology to create innovative, sustainable and modular structures with reduced material and labor costs.
The use of 3D printing technology in the construction industry can revolutionize the industry by creating unique modular structures with lower environmental impact and greater accessibility. The Tsuginote tea house demonstrates how additive manufacturing can be applied in the production of volumes on an architectural scale.
“This innovative effort in the world of architecture proposes a new model of architectural production through the fusion of digital fabrication technology and traditional construction techniques,” said Atsumi.
“I think this work can offer new perspectives and inspiration to its readers who are interested in Japanese architecture and design.”
The use of Japanese wood joints in 3D printing allows for the creation of intricate structures that were previously impossible to achieve by hand and may provide a solution to the challenge of the printable build volume limit. The structures can be designed parametrically and the exterior can be finished in a number of ways, including the addition of solar panels.
The Tsuginote Teahouse, on display at the Kanazawa Shrine in Japan, shows the potential of 3D printing technology in architecture to address technical and environmental parameters that could make the system innovative.
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