Photography © ICD/ITKE University of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart’s Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) has collaborated with the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE), to create the Urbach Tower, a unique landmark that’s been built in Germany.
The design of the tower emerges from a new self-shaping process of the curved wood components. This pioneering development constitutes a paradigm shift in timber manufacturing from elaborate and energy-intensive mechanical forming processes that require heavy machinery to a process where the material shapes entirely by itself. This shape change is only driven by the wood’s characteristic shrinking during a decrease of moisture content.
Photography © ICD/ITKE University of Stuttgart
The 45 foot (14m) tower is composed from pieces of wood that are designed and manufactured in a flat state, which then transform autonomously into the final, programmed curved shapes during industry-standard technical drying. This results in each designed panel being a thickness of just 3.5 inches (9 cm) thick, while 5 axis CNC cut components helped to create the design.
Photography © ICD/ITKE University of Stuttgart
12 individual prefabricated components were pre-assembled in groups of 3, while the exterior is made from Larche Wood with a titanium oxide surface treatment.
Photography © ICD/ITKE University of Stuttgart
The Urbach Tower is the first wood structure made from self-shaped components, and it serves as a landmark building for the City of Urbach’s contribution to the Remstal Gartenschau 2019.
Photography © ICD/ITKE University of Stuttgart
The tower has a 13 foot (4m) radius at the base, a 5 foot (1.6m) radius in the middle, and a 9 foot (3m) radius top, while the design of the panels make the tower appear as if it’s twisting.
