The evolution of long-span timber structures during the last centuries has been driven by technological developments that are associated with materials, joints, and manufacturing. Many extraordinary structural solutions have been developed, some of which have been very advanced in their time and have been replaced by new ones, typically because of the advent of new manufacturing methods or, at times, due to new technological innovations. This study examines the Hilding Brosenius (HB) system, which was developed in the 1940s as a versatile wooden frame solution for medium-to-long spans. The HB system is based on an I-shaped cross section where the web consists of two diagonal board layers, and the flanges are assembled from boards by nailing and gluing. This study presents and discusses the main structural components of the system from the perspective of structural mechanics, current design requirements, and manufacturing technologies. As a practical application example, the structural system will be examined in the renovation project of an HB portal frame from the 1950s. The main findings of this study are: (1) the HB system has certain features that would make it worthwhile modernizing and reusing it more widely; and (2) the HB system design principles lead to a safe and robust yet light and optimal structure.

Life-Cycle Assessments (LCA) have become a common tool of decision support in the built environment regarding environmental impacts. The goal of this study is to investigate the influence of different LCA approaches and system boundaries on decision support regarding circular design strategies. Three different ways of applying attributional LCA (ALCA) and one consequential LCA (CLCA) are assessed using a case study of a wooden beam with either virgin or reclaimed timber. While the conclusions are not readily scalable, the case study's results indicate that using reclaimed material is environmentally beneficial when applying ALCA. However, when applying CLCA the reclaimed material performs worse than the virgin material. This highlights the potential pitfalls of scaling up solutions based on LCA results without considering the broader consequences. While the current ALCA approach is useful for declarations, it may not provide comprehensive decision support for driving a transition in the built environment.

Making a Beam Social investigates how communities can gather heterogenous wood waste streams and steer them into load bearing building components. In response to the current wasteful wood practice being single use in the construction sector, there is a need to reconsider discarded wood’s potential. This research project seeks an alternative to relying on uniform traits and economies of scale, proposing novel, high value applications for waste wood. A full-scale loadbearing beam is constructed as an exemplar of alternative interactions between human and non-human agency, forming new social relations between locally salvaged timber artefacts, and community. Through a hands-on workshop, the project considers three aspects of facilitating local production with waste wood resources: • Archiving the existing traits of found timber pieces by utilising drawing as a means to represent the information of found materials. This situates the salvaged timber as evolving independent artefacts, and not only material resources. • Grading individual timber elements using established indicating properties as a means to predict material performance. • Fabricating the beam parts whilst retaining as much as possible their elemental identities. The physical outcome is a loadbearing member developed through interlacing the social and the technical. As an architectural element, it works towards a culture of local production.

At present, wood is in focus, with many sectors striving to capitalise on its renewability for reducing environmental impacts. Whilst wood offers incredible capabilities, attitudes are conflicted over how best we should manage our expectations of forests, and subsequently, how to value wood. The paper highlights current research into the barriers for a more circular practice of wood, notably defects, that inhibit the reuse of wood in its solid form. The theoretical context for the paper, material agency, provides a framework for discussing the development of closer connections between the heterogeneous material traits found in waste wood, and architecture. This theoretical approach, alongside the motivations from current research form the basis of two 1:1 practice-based waste wood prototypes, that depart from the function of a glulam beam, and a CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) wall. As architectural elements, they aim to integrate inherited material traits, recognising waste wood’s agency in the dialogue between designer and material. The prototypes demonstrate a potential for waste wood to replace virgin material in typical structural functions, as well as offering new aesthetics, that maintain the waste stream’s identity. In conclusion, the paper highlights avenues for further research to enable integrating wood’s agency in sustainable approaches to timber construction.

Reciprocal frames (RFs) are complex structural systems based on mutual support between elements. One of the main challenges for these structures is achieving geometrical complexity with ease for assembly. This paper describes the development of a new type of connection for RF that uses a single bolt to fix a whole fan. The method used was the Research Through Design, using algorithmic modelling and virtual and physical prototyping. After the exploration of different alternatives, the connection selected was structurally evaluated with a 3D solid finite element analysis (FEM) software and a 2D bar parametric model. Finally, a full-scale pavilion was built as a proof-of-concept. A total of 47 connections were fabricated using four 3D-printed templates combined with a hand router. The construction allowed us to draw conclusions on the connection design and the assembly method, and the process as a whole can contribute to the development of new structural links and production methods.

This article aims to compare the world of architecture with that of technology to define how, over the years, they have contributed to the development of each other. In the 60s, with the forward-looking projects of Yona Friedman and Cedric Price, the idea of adapting architecture to human needs was born. To better respond to this request, there is a need of receiving a large amount of data and to analyze it. Only today, after more than 50 years, technology can adequately respond to this need thanks to the application of Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT) to architectural design. The present study analyzes some past projects whilst considering contemporary digital technologies and mathematical algorithms. It highlights how Price's Generator Project was a forerunner of the modern Internet of Things systems. The second part of the article shows how new technologies can be applied to architectural design bringing both economic and adaptive advantages. In particular, a practical example is proposed based on the analysis of Big Data sets, related to meteorological and rainfall conditions by performing computational analysis on given data.The challenge of this experiment is to show that new IoT technologies and mathematical algorithms applied to architectural design could make the project more sustainable and aware.Ultimately, the contribution of this article is to increase the state of the art in this still-emerging field. It paves the way for new and more advanced future interactions between adaptive architecture and IoT systems.

This article aims to compare the world of architecture with that of technology to define how, over the years, they have contributed to the development of each other. In the 60s, with the forward-looking projects of Yona Friedman and Cedric Price, the idea of adapting architecture to human needs was born. To better respond to this request, there is a need of receiving a large amount of data and to analyze it. Only today, after more than 50 years, technology can adequately respond to this need thanks to the application of Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT) to architectural design. The present study analyzes some past projects whilst considering contemporary digital technologies and mathematical algorithms. It highlights how Price's Generator Project was a forerunner of the modern Internet of Things systems. The second part of the article shows how new technologies can be applied to architectural design bringing both economic and adaptive advantages. In particular, a practical example is proposed based on the analysis of Big Data sets, related to meteorological and rainfall conditions by performing computational analysis on given data.The challenge of this experiment is to show that new IoT technologies and mathematical algorithms applied to architectural design could make the project more sustainable and aware.Ultimately, the contribution of this article is to increase the state of the art in this still-emerging field. It paves the way for new and more advanced future interactions between adaptive architecture and IoT systems.