Three Experiments in Wood and Computational Design

This article focuses on the relationships among material-oriented design, digital technologies, and environmentally responsible construction. It argues that computational design methods and digital manufacturing have the capacity to open new opportunities for design and can lead to more sustainable practices. Through an analysis of three experiments in design and construction, the research seeks solutions that use the inherent material properties and behavior of wood to replace toxic chemicals, metal connectors, and energy-intensive processes. Offering an alternative to design processes that begin with theory and representation, this paper proposes a different approach, beginning with experiments in materiality. This approach involves methods based on rational reasoning rather than intuition.