Complex Connections: An investigation into the design to production model for non-standard joinery creation

Improper interpretation when reading construction drawings commonly leads to re-work, unnecessary cost inflation and generally act negatively on working relationships in the construction of a project. There are however, new processes and digital workflows emerging in architectural design which reduce risks that are often associated with the traditional stages of an architectural project. Pairing these new digital workflows with contemporary fabrication methods provides a nonlinear and more reliable system of information transfer.

The research for this thesis will consider assembly relationships and joining details within an advanced CAD/CAM process. Specifically, it will examine how the improvement of digital based, parametric joinery can be integrated into and influence the design to manufacture pipeline. Three projects will be created using proprietary parametric software  and CNC machine processes to analyse and develop the design to manufacture pipeline.

This thesis will focus on the joinery or detail portion of these  projects – an area often not considered until the final stages of a  project. Over the course of these projects the level of detail and complexity will be increased to challenge the structure of the workflow model. The three projects will attempt to re-develop efficiencies of joinery design within complex projects using computational efficiencies and machining advantages. The increasing complexity in each project will  provide a chance to improve the section of workflow which controls the development of joinery and detailing.

Project reflection will begin to highlight areas which can be taken advantage of to integrate joinery into a project earlier. Considering the joinery and detailing relationships earlier in the process may provide reduced inefficiencies, improving the manufacturing links to production of complex architecture.