Exploring Architectural Design through Digital Construction

We explore the development of a management system for the digital construction of Non-Standardized Units (NSUs) in parametric design of architecture, addressing its complexity through an innovative integration of SQL databases and Grasshopper in Rhino for efficient, accurate and cost-effective project execution. Our research combines insights from our lab with global digital construction precedents to create a universal system that facilitates real-time data exchange for NSU projects. The effectiveness of the system is validated through its application in an actual NSU façade project, called OCR (from Ikeda lab), demonstrating its potential to transform digital construction practice for NSUs and strengthen the bridge between parametric design and digital execution.

Dividing the facade into multiple segments for the installation. The size of each segment depends on the construction limitations, handleable weight, and the used crane.

Installing a facade segment with a lift

Facade segments brought to site for installation

Using projection mapping to assemble the facade without the need for paper documents

The projection mapping shows us both where a member should be, where its joints are, and how the other members connect to it.

Using a modified circular saw to cut notches to the facade wooden membres.

For more complicated joints we used the ShopBot CNC machine to cut the notches.