Conceptual joining 
Experimental, artistic research 

https://conceptual-joining.com/

Among the advances in carpentry and timber construction developed across different cultures, climates and geographies, the ingenious principle of plug-in connections is a powerful manifestation. The use of solid wood for construction has the potential to shape the building elements so that they can be directly joined together without the need for additional fasteners. This results in a low-tech joining technique of interlocking components that can be used to form flexible, temporary structures.

In the Conceptual Joining Research the use of digital tools and the anatomy of wood becomes a design-determining principle for spatial structures. Our team of architects, carpenters and engineers also explored the potential of traditional craftsmanship and derive from this a material-oriented practice. Structures are not designed here for a specific use, but rather open up various usage possibilities due to their unique spatial and geometric properties.

The two prototypes, Interlocking Spaces (IS 1 & IS2) explored the design and fabrication of complex structures from standard wood elements that apply the concept of interlocking on both a detail and overall form level, between modularity and irregularity, systematics and intuition as well mediate digital and analogue practices. Traditional wood joints have inspired a design methodology that combines intuition technlogy and a material-based approach to test a possible new model for a contemporary practice of design and craftsmanship.

Conceptual joining - Wood structures from detail to utopia 
Institute for Art Science and Art Education (DAE/DEX), University of Applied Arts Vienna

PROJECT LEAD: Christoph Kaltenbrunner
MENTORS: Anja Jonkhans, Clemens Preisinger Karin Raith
RESEARCHER: Lukas Allner, Daniela Kröhnert, Philipp Reinsberg, Mechthild Weber
Supported by ”Wissenschaftsfond FWF” within “Programm zur Entwicklung und Erschließung der Künste PEEK” - PROJECT NUMBER AR395-G24

TIME FRAME: 2017-2021