From Waste to Wonder: A New Framework for Sustainable Buildi
Amazing Architecture
Boyuan Yu, Jianing Luo, Yi Shi: This project redefines waste wood as a valuable architectural resource by introducing a replicable framework for sustainable building design and construction (SBDC). Rooted in circular economy principles, the project addresses the pressing challenge of reusing irregular off-cut wood—material typically dismissed due to its non-standard geometry and lack of design integration methods.
The SBDC framework comprises three key components: a Material Reclamation System (MRS) that uses 3D scanning technologies (LiDAR, photogrammetry, laser scanning) to digitize and catalogue reclaimed wood; a Structure Generation and Assessment System (SGAS) that employs voxel-based packing, algorithmic generation (via Wave Function Collapse), and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for structural optimization; and a Fabrication Process that spans furniture, architectural components, and full-scale pavilions.
Funding Scheme for Engaging Postgraduate Students in Teachi
CUHK - TDLEG
Funding Scheme for Engaging Postgraduate Students in Teaching and Teaching Development (2022-25)
Design Thinking for Prototyping, Automation, and Sustainable Material Use
From Waste to Wonder: A New Framework for Sustainable Buildi
Parametric Architecture
In an era increasingly defined by material scarcity and ecological urgency, the construction industry faces a crucial turning point. Among the vast quantities of materials discarded each day, wood, particularly in the form of irregular off-cuts, stands as a striking example of untapped potential. These complex fragments, typically byproducts of traditional manufacturing and construction processes, are often overlooked, destined for landfills or downcycled into low-value products like mulch or particleboard. This linear consumption model is unsustainable and represents a significant loss of a valuable, renewable resource.
Generative building facades realizes architecture renewal in
Designboom
Hong Kong’s rapid urbanization has resulted in a complex mixture of historic and modern architectural styles, often causing visual identity discord across city blocks. Jianing Luo and Boyuan Yu’s project, Generative Building Facades with Pix2Pix GAN in Hong Kong, responds to the pressing challenge of harmonizing new development and renovation efforts with existing neighborhood character. They propose a design methodology using Pix2Pix GAN — a deep generative model — to automatically generate building facades that are contextually aligned with Hong Kong’s urban environment.
Revolutionizing Construction: Upcycling Irregular Wood Waste
Springer Nature
Senior Editor, Springer Nature
Addressing the overlooked role of decomposers in human-created production systems, this study explores the sustainable use of waste wood in urban development. By integrating several technologies and multidisciplinary approaches, the authors of this paper developed a Sustainable Building Design and Construction (SBDC) framework to reclaim, design, and fabricate waste wood. The findings highlight the potential of waste wood as a renewable resource, contributing to SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities.
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From Waste to Wonder: A New Framework for Sustainable Buildi
World Architecture Community
Project Framework: The project is underpinned by the Sustainable Building Design and Construction (SBDC) framework, a three-stage workflow:
1. Material Reclamation System (MRS): A system for creating a digital database of reclaimed wood.
2. Structural Generation and Assessment System (SGAS): A computational system for design generation and structural analysis.
3. Fabrication: Physical assembly of the generated designs.
How 3D Scanning & Robotics is Driving Timber Construction ..
Wood Central
Editor
A new report, published in Nature, looks to better utilise "waste wood" in reconstituted products for building projects.
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THU Designing the Future • Shared Vision" 2024 summer school
Tsinghua University, Young Tutor
Source: International Summer Program Team, Office of International Affairs
Graphic editor | Chen Jie
Review | Wang Xiaoxin
On the morning of August 18, 2024, the opening ceremony of the 2024 International Summer Program "Designing the Future, Shared Vision" hosted by the Academy of Fine Arts of Tsinghua University was held in the C528 Lecture Hall of the Academy of Fine Arts. The theme of this summer program is "Designing the Future, Shared Vision", and 33 outstanding overseas students from 10 famous universities in 10 countries, including the Royal College of Art, the Polytechnic University of Milan, the Musashino Art University, the Singapore University of Technology and Design, and the University of Tsukuba, Japan, participated.
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Design Futures · Shared Vision AADTHU
Tsinghua University, Young Tutor
Source: International Summer Program Team, Office of International Affairs
Graphic editor | Chen Jie
Review | Wang Xiaoxin
In his closing remarks, Dean MA Sai emphasized that this year's summer program, centered around the theme of "Design Futures·Shared Vision," attracted 33 exceptional international students from 10 renowned institutions, including the Royal College of Art, Politecnico di Milano, Musashino Art University, Singapore University of Technology and Design, and University of Tsukuba. The program achieved remarkable results, aligning with the Academy's strategic goal of deepening internationalization. It fostered collaborations with leading global academic institutions and design enterprises, aiming to cultivate design leaders with both global perspectives and innovative capabilities. Dean MA expressed his gratitude to all guest speakers, industry experts, junior mentors, volunteers, and staff who contributed to the success of the program. He looks forward to future reunions and the creation of even more brilliant chapters together.
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e-Co Architecture: A Cooperative Fab-Lab Exploring Ecologica
Design Trust, Grantee
“Ecological architecture” calls for a paradigm shift in architectural processes, urging designers to consider the externalities imposed on other biological species and the environment. This study aims to explore how salvaged windthrow and other solid wastes can be repurposed and seamlessly integrated into architectural processes. However, upcycling presents unique challenges in volatile material supply, difficult craftsmanship, and design complexity.
AI-Driven Upcycling of Regular Wood Trunks and Logs
London Design Awards, Platinum Winner
In sustainable building design and construction (SBDC), irregular wood elements (such as unprocessed logs, forks, and branches) remain primarily underutilised due to their complex geometries, which make them hard to reconfigure and result in significant material waste. This study addresses this challenge by developing a novel design-to-construction workflow to upcycle hard-to-reconfigure irregular wood into high-performance building components. The methodology integrates computational design with advanced digital fabrication and assembly techniques. 3D scanning and algorithmic modelling capture and optimise each element’s geometry; finite element analysis evaluates structural viability, and mixed-reality guidance in robotic fabrication enables precise assembly of the resulting components. This integrated approach transforms previously discarded wood pieces into structurally sound, architecturally expressive prototypes—including furniture and pavilion-scale structures—with minimal processing and waste. The proposed framework showcases the potential for creating functional and aesthetically pleasing furniture, pavilions, and architectural elements using reclaimed wood.
From Waste to Wonder: Upcycling Wood for Sustainable Design
NY Architectural Design Awards, Silver Winner
This project introduces a groundbreaking approach to architectural sustainability by transforming off-cut wood, typically discarded as waste, into valuable construction components for furniture, architectural elements, and entire pavilions. In response to the growing global crisis of material overuse and wood scarcity, this work proposes a replicable, design-to-fabrication framework for upcycling irregular wood waste into structurally sound and aesthetically compelling architectural forms.
Exhibition: Design Futures · Shared Vision 2024
Tsinghua University, Exhibitor
Wood Upgrading Design and Manufacturing under XR & AI Technology
Researchers at CUHK Target Sustainable Development
Daily Hong Kong Report
2022 NOV 08 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Daily Hong Kong Report -- Fresh data on Sustainability Research - Sustainable Development are presented in a new report. According to news reporting out of Hong Kong, People's Republic of China, by NewsRx editors, research stated, "The increasing demand for social well-being and infrastructure development, along with the exploitation of physical resources and the depletion of natural ecological resources, have led to a series of environmental problems, such as global warming and climate change. As a result, the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals have called for the reduction in the impact of urban development on the environment and the creation of adaptive, inclusive and sustainable habitats."
Exhibition: e-Co Architecture
CUHK & HKFYG Jockey Club Jat Min Youth S.P.O.T.
We go out to local neighbourhoods and performance venues to reclaim wood and repurpose this material into community furniture. We wanted to bring this technology to the residents, and we created a series of prototype chairs together.
Resident involvement was made possible by the Digital Fabrication Method, which includes.
- CNC cutting technology
- Design for Assembly (DfMA) technology
- At the same time, we designed a heat-shrink plastic wood joint - utilising the plasticity of plastic bottles to enhance participation in the production process.
The Bartlett Autumn and B-Pro Show 2021 Prize Winners
University College London, The Bartlett School of Architecture
This year’s student prize winners from The Bartlett Autumn Show and B-Pro Show were announced on 29 October 2021 as the shows were launched online.
Bronze Prize
'Cornucopia', Research Clusters 5&6