Reimagining Timber: Adaptive Structures From Out-of-Grade Wood
Presented by Dr Ding Wen ‘Nic’ Bao
DETAILS
Free, no booking required
Design Hub
Building 100 (Design Hub) - RMIT University, Victoria Street, Carlton VIC, Australia
DATES
Sun 18 May 10am – 5pm
Mon 19 May 10am – 5pm
Tue 20 May 10am – 5pm
Wed 21 May 10am – 5pm
Thu 22 May 10am – 5pm
Fri 23 May 10am – 5pm
Sat 24 May 10am – 5pm
Sun 25 May 10am – 5pm
Timber is a cornerstone of sustainable construction, valued for its renewability, carbon sequestration potential, and low embodied energy. However, a significant proportion of structural sawn timber —primarily sourced from softwood plantations — is classified as “out-of-grade” due to variations in stiffness, strength, or other material inconsistencies. As a result, much of this timber remains underutilized or wasted.
This project reimagines out-of-grade timber as a high-performance, customisable structural material through an intelligent design and construction methodology that integrates architecture, computational design, structural engineering, behavioural algorithms, and advanced manufacturing. By leveraging topology optimisation, augmented reality (AR)-assisted assembly, and robotic fabrication, the project establishes a real-time material processing system that forms a closed-loop feedback mechanism for structural adjustment and adaptive reuse. This approach fundamentally rethinks conventional sequential workflows in architecture and construction.
The exhibition showcases a series of scaled prototypes that explore this methodology, demonstrating its potential for long-span, large-scale timber structures. These prototypes highlight efficient fabrication workflows that leverage AR-assisted discrete assembly techniques, enabling precise construction while fostering closer collaboration between architects and structural engineers. By challenging traditional classification systems and fabrication constraints, the project envisions a future where timber construction is not only materially efficient, but also structurally expressive and technologically integrated.
Led by Dr. Nic Bao (RMIT University), Dr. Dan Luo, and A/Prof Joe Gattas (The University of Queensland), this project is part of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Advanced Timber Hub.
Participants
Dr. Nic Bao
Dr. Nic Bao is a Registered Architect and Senior Lecturer in Architecture at the School of Architecture and Urban Design, RMIT University. His research focuses on developing design methodologies that integrate architecture, computational design, structural engineering, behavioral algorithms, robotic fabrication, additive manufacturing, and intelligent construction. He has published over 60 papers and secured multiple research grants from Australian Research Council (ARC) and industry partners. Nic is also the Director of B.W Architects (BWA) & BAUR, Founder of FormX Research Lab, a Partner at Ameba, and the Secretary of CAADRIA. Nic completed his PhD in Architecture and Engineering at RMIT and has received numerous accolades, including RMIT Award for Research Excellence (ECR), RMIT Award for Research Impact (HDR), A’ Design Award, IDA Design Award, IAI Design Award, MUSE Design Award, GPDP Design Award, DigitalFutures Young Award, and Young CAADRIA Award.
Dr. Dan Luo
Dr. Dan Luo is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Architecture at The University of Queensland and an architect with a strong background in computer science. She holds a Ph.D. in digital design and fabrication from Tsinghua University (2019), a Master of Architecture from Columbia University (2014), and is currently completing a Master of Computer and Information Technology at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Luo specialises in digital design and applied robotic construction. She has worked at UNStudio, and her research integrates advanced fabrication technologies with design-build practices to explore the future of automated construction. In addition to publishing in top academic journals and conferences, Dr. Luo has developed robotic systems applied in on-site construction for built projects. Her work has also been featured in international exhibitions, including the Milan Triennial.
Dr. Joe Gattas
Dr. Joe Gattas is an Associate Professor at the University of Queensland's School of Civil Engineering, where he heads the Folded Structures research group. His research expertise spans various fields, including origami-inspired engineering, computational building design, advanced manufacturing, lightweight and modular structures, and timber engineering. In 2009, Joe obtained his Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Queensland, and in 2013, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford, funded by a prestigious John Monash Scholarship. He remains an active participant in the John Monash Scholar community. From 2016 to 2021, Joe led the Manufacture and Digital Design project stream within the ARC Future Timber Hub. This initiative aimed to support the development of tall timber buildings in the Pacific region. Upon its successful completion, timber industry partners backed the establishment of a new ARC Advance Timber Hub (2022-), designed to accelerate innovation and the adoption of timber in Australian buildings.