CoDeFa: Collaborative Design of Prefabricated Façade Systems, Research, Design Preis Schweiz 21
Nominee | Research | 2021

CoDeFa: Collaborative Design of Prefabricated Façade Systems

The design of building facades is one of the tasks to which especially ambitious architects like to devote themselves. However, efforts to find individual solutions beyond the standard are often doomed to failure due to high or unpredictable construction costs. This should not be the case. A design tool that on the one hand enables individual solutions and on the other hand determines the associated production effort, or in other words: that combines creation and production, would certainly be helpful in such a situation. The development of such a tool was the focus of the 2019/20 joint research project CoDeFa (Collaborative Design of Prefabricated Facade Systems), in which the Institute of Integrative Design / School of Design and Art FHNW and ERNE AG Holzbau were involved. In collaboration with designers, architects, robotic specialists, and timber constructors, it was possible to link parametric design and robotic - following the established artisans workflow - production to generate individual, prefabricated timber facades. As demonstrated by concrete implementations, such an integrated design and fabrication system enables the rational production of varied, well-finished and at the same time cost-efficient wooden facades. Along the way, the project promotes building with wood, a material known to be particularly sustainable.

Comments of the nominators

The results of this design-driven and in its implementation exemplary cooperative research project are a valuable contribution to the topic of digitalization in the construction industry. The sample solutions presented appear aesthetically and technologically ambitious. They illustrate the potential of digital tools that combine creation and production.

Academic partner:

Institute Integrative Design | Masterstudio,
FHNW Academy of Art and Design

Edyta Augustynowicz (Project Lead), Maria Smigielska, Daniel Nikles (Architectectural design, Parametric process development, Robotic process development)

Ralf Michel, Heinz Wagner
(Advisors)

Industrial partner:

ERNE AG Holzbau: Thomas Wehrle (Project Manager), Oliver Ackermann, Heiri Treier, Thomas Reiner (Wood Engineering, Wood Manufacturing and Construction, Facade assembly)

co-financed by:

Innosuisse

More projects from edition 2021

Winner
Young Professionals
2021

Cima – Circular Medical Apparel

Nominee
Product Design
2021

MÜLLEX X-LINE – Waste Separation Systems

Nominee
Inclusive Design
2021

Bonjour Toolbox

Nominee
Inclusive Design
2021

kwer

Winner
Circular Design
2021

Cyclon

Winner
Research
2021

Orthograph – A multi-sensory learning experience designed to fight dyslexia

Winner
Textiles
2021

BENU® Sea Collection

Nominee
Product Design
2021

MATCH Slate

Nominee
Circular Design
2021

CIRCULAR 1

Nominee
Interior Design
2021

Fitnesspark Stadelhofen, Zürich

Nominee
Product Design
2021

PHONOCUT

Nominee
Young Professionals
2021

Optotype – Interpolation between text and display

Winner
Young Professionals
2021

ROBUST NEST – Adapted newborn incubator for Sub-Saharan Africa

Nominee
Textiles
2021

Webnet Evo

Winner
Product Design
2021

LAUFEN – save!

Nominee
Product Design
2021

swiss air – Safety never felt so comfortable

Nominee
Textiles
2021

Smart Textiles – Heatable Capsule Collection

Winner
Circular Design
2021

Circular Eating

Nominee
Circular Design
2021

100% Nature Collection / V&R X CALIDA Capsule Collection

Winner
Inclusive Design
2021

«Gerontologisches Design für mehr Lebensqualität im Alter»

Winner
Furniture Design
2021

Lotte – Aiding Independence in Old Age

Winner
Circular Design
2021

earlybird skis – CHICKADEE

Nominee
Circular Design
2021

Circle Jacket by Neumühle

Nominee
Furniture Design
2021

Lernwabe Karton als Bausatz

Nominee
Furniture Design
2021

Ming Shan Digital Experience

Winner
Furniture Design
2021

TENSE Lounge chair

Winner
Interior Design
2021

NIEMANDSLAND – Eine Reise zu dem, was zwischen uns liegt

Nominee
Young Professionals
2021

KUORI, a biodegradable alternative material

Winner
Product Design
2021

Fotokite Sigma

Nominee
Young Professionals
2021

Öhi

Winner
Circular Design
2021

Project Circleg

Winner
Young Professionals
2021

Tofu to-go

Nominee
Inclusive Design
2021

SAFEEL Protektoren – Sicher durch den Alltag

Nominee
Young Professionals
2021

Space Duality

Nominee
Product Design
2021

Flexity Zürich