Crafting innovation: Discrete timber pavilions and fabrication-driven approaches

Abstract

In regions with limited access to CAD/CAM machines like Latin America, academic experiences have adapted digital tools to local capabilities, aiming to enhance project creativity through digital technology. This article examines the use of timber as a material, addressing the technical, spatial, and cultural aspects related to its use, while intertwining the educational narrative of learning through doing and adapting. The structures designed in this research are based on three key parameters: timber as the main material, framing as a discrete design system and side-by-side joints as a vital component of the traditional fabrication process. Through the integration of digital and traditional techniques, the aim is to adapt methods frequently used in digital design and manufacturing processes. This study emphasizes that merging digital tools with traditional construction knowledge can lead to innovative solutions, especially in areas with limited digital resources, showing that digital fabrication can broaden and enrich traditional building methods beyond just being a numerical alternative.