A Process of Innovation: Technological Development in Wood Construction

Abstract

This thesis explores the use of small diameter, round timber in the construction of lightweight gridshell structures. The project intention is to develop a simple and accessible construction method, based on locally available material that embraces a diverse range of technology. The design is developed using a material based approach, which first explores the behavior and limits of the material through testing at full scale. This information is used in a rapid prototyping process of scale modeling which focuses on material and construction sequence to develop a structural system. Using available materials as a design parameter, the work is an exploration of how the gridshell system can be adapted to the specific context of rural Nova Scotia. This design method is explored through the design of a craft school at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts in Ross Creek, Nova Scotia, Canada.