Oliver David Krieg

Research

Research archive

Built research in robotic fabrication and computational design for timber, from the Institute for Computational Design and Construction at the University of Stuttgart, workshops in Vancouver, Sydney and Shanghai, and design work with odk.design.

BUGA Wood Pavilion, 2019. Photo: ICD/ITKE, University of Stuttgart

Index

17 projects

  1. 2019BUGA Wood PavilionBundesgartenschau, HeilbronnPavilion
  2. 2019IBA Timber Prototype HouseIBA Thüringen, GermanyPrototype
  3. 2019Dragon Skin PavilionUBC VancouverWorkshop
  4. 2018Wander Wood PavilionUBC VancouverWorkshop
  5. 2018AESTUS vasesodk.designDesign
  6. 2017Segmented Timber ShellSchloss Rosenstein, StuttgartDemonstrator
  7. 2017Robot Made: Double-Layered Diagrid FacadeUBC VancouverWorkshop
  8. 2016Active TimberUBC VancouverWorkshop
  9. 2016ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2015–16University of StuttgartPavilion
  10. 2016Robotic Sewing of Elastically Bent PlywoodUniversity of SydneyWorkshop
  11. 2015Robot-Assisted Assembly in Wood ConstructionTongji University, ShanghaiWorkshop
  12. 2014Landesgartenschau Exhibition HallSchwäbisch GmündBuilding
  13. 2013HygroSkin: Meteorosensitive PavilionFRAC Centre, OrléansPavilion
  14. 2012Connecting IntelligenceUniversity of StuttgartDiploma thesis
  15. 2011ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2011University of StuttgartPavilion
  16. 2010ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010University of StuttgartPavilion
  17. 2010Robotically Manufactured Material SystemsUniversity of StuttgartSeminar
2019Pavilion

BUGA Wood Pavilion

Bundesgartenschau, Heilbronn

Scientific development and management, in a team, until the manufacturing phase in 2018

A segmented wood shell based on the plate skeleton of sea urchins, spanning 30 metres over one of the Bundesgartenschau's main event venues. A robotic manufacturing platform was developed to assemble and mill the pavilion's 376 bespoke hollow wood segments, which fit together with sub-millimetre precision.

Full project description and credits

  • German Design Award 2020
  • Iconic Awards 2019, Innovative Materials, Best of Best
  • German Sustainability Award 2019
BUGA Wood Pavilion: Timber shell spanning over the event venue at dusk BUGA Wood Pavilion: Side view of the shell with lit openings BUGA Wood Pavilion: Shell seen across the garden lawn BUGA Wood Pavilion: Shell in the Bundesgartenschau landscape BUGA Wood Pavilion: Robotic fabrication platform with two industrial robots BUGA Wood Pavilion: Robot end effector handling a timber segment

Photos: ICD/ITKE, University of Stuttgart

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2019Prototype

IBA Timber Prototype House

IBA Thüringen, Germany

Scientific development and management, in a team

A log cabin turned on its side. Solid timber elements are arranged as staggered upright frames, oriented in the strong direction of the wood, which leaves room for sawn slits. The profile combines zones for thermal performance, structural capacity and airtightness, creating a building envelope made of wood alone.

Full project description and credits

  • Green Concept Award 2020
IBA Timber Prototype House: Timber prototype house at dusk with lit windows IBA Timber Prototype House: Front view of the prototype house at night IBA Timber Prototype House: Prototype house in a field at dusk IBA Timber Prototype House: Narrow side of the prototype house at dusk IBA Timber Prototype House: Exploded drawing of the solid timber wall frames IBA Timber Prototype House: Floor plan of the prototype house

Photos: Thomas Müller; process images by ICD, University of Stuttgart, IBA Thüringen and Jade Hochschule Oldenburg

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2019Workshop

Dragon Skin Pavilion

UBC Vancouver

Development, planning and execution, in a research team

A temporary pavilion assembled without metal fasteners, drawing on Japanese and Chinese joinery traditions. An elastically bent grid shell is held in place by robotically fabricated shingles that act as moment connections and keep out the rain. Led with David Correa and AnnaLisa Meyboom.

Watch the film

Dragon Skin Pavilion: Timber shingles with dowel connections Dragon Skin Pavilion: Close-up of the shingled grid shell Dragon Skin Pavilion: Shingled surface rising against the sky Dragon Skin Pavilion: Underside of the shingle layers Dragon Skin Pavilion: Pavilion on the UBC campus lawn Dragon Skin Pavilion: Pavilion in front of a campus building

Photos: David Correa and Shabaan Khokhar

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2018Workshop

Wander Wood Pavilion

UBC Vancouver

Development, planning and execution, in a research team

A temporary installation on the UBC campus, fabricated and assembled in three days during the Robot Made workshop with the university's eight-axis industrial robot. It is conceived as an adaptable design-to-fabrication system that participants can tailor to local materials and tools. Led with David Correa and AnnaLisa Meyboom.

  • Wood Design Awards in BC 2019
Wander Wood Pavilion: Curved timber wall pavilion on the UBC campus Wander Wood Pavilion: Pavilion seen along its length Wander Wood Pavilion: Pavilion in front of a campus building Wander Wood Pavilion: Curved timber surface on the lawn Wander Wood Pavilion: Visitor walking beside the pavilion Wander Wood Pavilion: Close-up of the milled timber layers

Photos: David Correa

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2018Design

AESTUS vases

odk.design

Design and development, odk.design

A series of four stratified wooden vases, carved by an industrial robot from hundreds of layers of wood so that the machine's movement shows in the wood's texture. Produced with the carpentry Georg Ackermann GmbH through a direct data transfer from design to production.

  • Rado Star Prize, Prix du Jury 2019
  • A' Design Award, Gold 2019
  • International Design Awards 2019
  • Interior Product Design Award 2019
  • ExpoWanted 2019

Watch the filmodk.design

AESTUS vases: Two AESTUS vases beside a sofa AESTUS vases: Person standing beside AESTUS vases AESTUS vases: Industrial robot carving a layered wooden vase AESTUS vases: Person seated beside AESTUS vases AESTUS vases: Three vases with branches beside a sofa against a concrete wall AESTUS vases: Close-up of the carved wood layers at the base of a vase

Photos: Kristie Meyer and David Correa

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2017Demonstrator

Segmented Timber Shell

Schloss Rosenstein, Stuttgart

Development, design and fabrication planning, in a research team

A thin segmented shell of beech plywood plates only two centimetres thick, spanning about seven metres. Shell geometry and plate arrangement were optimized structurally while respecting fabrication constraints. Built with the University of Tübingen for the exhibition baubionik at the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart.

Full project description and credits

Segmented Timber Shell: Plywood shell framing the museum doorway Segmented Timber Shell: Underside of the segmented plywood plates Segmented Timber Shell: Shell spanning the museum hall Segmented Timber Shell: Plate joints of the shell Segmented Timber Shell: Assembling plywood plates on a workbench Segmented Timber Shell: Finger-jointed plywood plates before assembly

Photos: ICD/ITKE, University of Stuttgart

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2017Workshop

Robot Made: Double-Layered Diagrid Facade

UBC Vancouver

Development, planning and execution, in a research team

A five-day workshop on robotic timber fabrication at UBC's Centre for Advanced Wood Processing, led with David Correa. Using an eight-axis industrial robot, participants developed and built a full-scale double-layered diagrid facade structure.

Full project description and credits

Robot Made: Double-Layered Diagrid Facade: Double-layered timber facade structure on the UBC campus Robot Made: Double-Layered Diagrid Facade: Curving diagrid structure against the sky Robot Made: Double-Layered Diagrid Facade: Close-up of the double-layered timber lattice Robot Made: Double-Layered Diagrid Facade: Diagrid structure on the campus lawn Robot Made: Double-Layered Diagrid Facade: Drawing of the facade structure geometry Robot Made: Double-Layered Diagrid Facade: Drawing of the structure and its supports

Photos: ICD, University of Stuttgart

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2016Workshop

Active Timber

UBC Vancouver

Development, planning and execution, in a research team

A workshop on elastically bent plywood for double-layered folded plate structures, led with David Correa. Finger-jointed panels with hygroscopically actuated fasteners assemble into a self-standing structure without metal fasteners or moulds, with fabrication data sent directly from the design tool to the robot.

Full project description and credits

Watch the film

Active Timber: Folded plate structure in a park Active Timber: Close-up of elastically bent plywood panels Active Timber: Visitors beside the folded plate structure Active Timber: Folded plywood panels from below Active Timber: Robot milling plywood in the workshop Active Timber: Finger-jointed panels during assembly

Photos: ICD, University of Stuttgart

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2016Pavilion

ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2015–16

University of Stuttgart

Management and scientific development, in a research team with students

The first pavilion to use industrial sewing of wood elements at architectural scale, demonstrating robotic textile fabrication of segmented timber shells. Designed and built by students and researchers in a team of architects, engineers, biologists and palaeontologists.

Full project description and credits

  • ArchDaily Building of the Year 2017

Watch the film

ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2015–16: Segmented timber shell with sewn plywood cells ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2015–16: Aerial view of the pavilion on the campus ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2015–16: Close-up of the sewn plywood segments ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2015–16: Pavilion with a visitor inside the opening ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2015–16: Sea urchin plate skeleton used as the biological model ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2015–16: Diagrams of the bending and sewing research

Photos: ICD/ITKE, University of Stuttgart

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2016Workshop

Robotic Sewing of Elastically Bent Plywood

University of Sydney

Development, planning and execution, in a research team

A RobArch 2016 workshop exploring textile connections for timber. Regular plywood strips are sewn together with an industrial sewing machine while two collaborating robot arms guide the workpiece, so that complex geometry can be built without elaborate measuring.

Full project description and credits

Robotic Sewing of Elastically Bent Plywood: Sewn plywood strips forming a curved wall Robotic Sewing of Elastically Bent Plywood: Close-up of the sewn plywood seams Robotic Sewing of Elastically Bent Plywood: Sewn plywood structure in a hall Robotic Sewing of Elastically Bent Plywood: Curved sewn plywood surface in a hall Robotic Sewing of Elastically Bent Plywood: Workshop participants at work Robotic Sewing of Elastically Bent Plywood: Bent plywood strips during assembly

Photos: ICD, University of Stuttgart

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2015Workshop

Robot-Assisted Assembly in Wood Construction

Tongji University, Shanghai

Development, planning and execution, in a research team

The DADA 2015 Digital Factory workshop, led with Abel Groenewolt and Achim Menges. An industrial robot acts as an assembly assistant and places simple, regular timber elements precisely, so that complex structures can be built from standard building materials.

Full project description and credits

  • Competition Campus Teaching Award 2016

Watch the film

Robot-Assisted Assembly in Wood Construction: Interior of the stacked timber structure Robot-Assisted Assembly in Wood Construction: Stacked timber walls curving through a hall Robot-Assisted Assembly in Wood Construction: Curved timber walls in the exhibition hall Robot-Assisted Assembly in Wood Construction: Visitor walking through the timber structure Robot-Assisted Assembly in Wood Construction: Drawing of the robot placing timber elements Robot-Assisted Assembly in Wood Construction: Workshop participants at screens

Photos: ICD, University of Stuttgart

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2014Building

Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall

Schwäbisch Gmünd

Scientific development, planning and fabrication, in a research team

The first building with a primary structure made entirely of robotically prefabricated beech plywood plates, only 50 mm thick. Integrated computational design, simulation, fabrication and surveying made this resource-efficient lightweight timber shell possible.

Full project description and credits

  • German Design Award Special 2016
  • Wilhelm-Klauditz-Preis 2015
  • Timber Construction Award Baden-Württemberg 2015
  • Beispielhaftes Bauen Ostalbkreis 2009–2014
  • Rob|Arch Pioneering Research Award 2014

Watch the film

Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall: Plywood plate shell framing a glazed opening Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall: Exhibition hall among trees and flower beds Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall: Visitor inside the plywood plate shell Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall: Plate structure of the interior shell Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall: Drawings of the shell geometry and plate layout Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall: Structural analysis diagrams of the shell

Photos: ICD/ITKE, University of Stuttgart

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2013Pavilion

HygroSkin: Meteorosensitive Pavilion

FRAC Centre, Orléans

Project lead, scientific development and fabrication, in a research team

A climate-responsive pavilion whose robotically fabricated wooden skin opens and closes with changes in humidity, with no operational energy or mechanical control. Achim Menges in collaboration with Oliver David Krieg and Steffen Reichert, for the permanent collection of the FRAC Centre.

Full project description and credits

Watch the film

HygroSkin: Meteorosensitive Pavilion: Pavilion standing in a park HygroSkin: Meteorosensitive Pavilion: Close-up of the humidity-responsive apertures HygroSkin: Meteorosensitive Pavilion: Pavilion in the FRAC Centre gallery HygroSkin: Meteorosensitive Pavilion: Wooden skin modules with apertures HygroSkin: Meteorosensitive Pavilion: Module components before assembly HygroSkin: Meteorosensitive Pavilion: Simulation of the robotic fabrication of a module

Photos: ICD, University of Stuttgart

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2012Diploma thesis

Connecting Intelligence

University of Stuttgart

Diploma thesis, supervised by Prof. Achim Menges

Elastically bent plate morphologies based on robotically fabricated finger joints, combining material behaviour and robotic fabrication in a computational design tool for lightweight plywood construction. Awarded the faculty's Diploma Prize among 100 projects.

  • Diploma Prize, Faculty of Architecture 2012

Watch the film

Connecting Intelligence: Rendering of the plate structure from above Connecting Intelligence: Rendering of the structure at architectural scale Connecting Intelligence: Rendering of the interior space Connecting Intelligence: Physical model of the plate structure Connecting Intelligence: Physical model on a white base Connecting Intelligence: Diploma presentation boards

Photos: ICD, University of Stuttgart

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2011Pavilion

ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2011

University of Stuttgart

Development and fabrication, as a student

A bionic research pavilion that translates the plate skeleton of the sand dollar into a modular structure of robotically fabricated plywood plates with finger joints, built from plywood only 6.5 mm thin.

Full project description and credits

  • Lightweight Structures Award 2011
  • International Design Award 2011, second prize in architecture
  • Wood Construction Award Baden-Württemberg 2012, special award for innovation
ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2011: Pavilion lit from inside at night ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2011: Plate structure with a view out ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2011: Visitors at the pavilion entrance ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2011: Pavilion seen from above ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2011: Industrial robot milling finger joints ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2011: Students assembling plate cassettes

Photos: ICD/ITKE, University of Stuttgart

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2010Pavilion

ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010

University of Stuttgart

Fabrication, as a graduate student assistant

A bending-active structure made entirely of thin, elastically bent plywood strips, demonstrating material-oriented computational design, simulation and production.

Full project description and credits

  • Deutscher Holzbaupreis 2011, honourable mention
ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010: Bent plywood strips seen against the sky ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010: Pavilion at dusk on the campus ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010: Interior of the bent plywood strip structure ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010: Visitors inside the lit pavilion ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010: Interior view under the plywood strips ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010: Pavilion seen from a building above

Photos: A. Lautenschlager, A. Menges, K. Dierichs and S. Reichert

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2010Seminar

Robotically Manufactured Material Systems

University of Stuttgart

Development and fabrication, as a student

A seminar project at the ICD with Prof. Achim Menges and C. Robeller on file-to-fabrication workflows with an industrial robot, bringing the limits and possibilities of robotic machining into the design of differentiated building components.

Robotically Manufactured Material Systems: Robot processing a plywood part Robotically Manufactured Material Systems: Industrial robot in the lab Robotically Manufactured Material Systems: Finger-jointed plywood prototype Robotically Manufactured Material Systems: Robot milling a timber part Robotically Manufactured Material Systems: Robot spindle cutting plywood Robotically Manufactured Material Systems: Milled plywood part on the robot table

Photos: ICD, University of Stuttgart

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