Tree Series

2016-current

나무와 결구

Pagoda of Fogong-si, China

Reimagination of East Asian monumental timber architecture

동아시아 목조 건축의 새로운 탄생

Songgwang-sa, Korea

Nandai-mon, Todai-ji, Japan

Tree Series

Obstacles to moderning East Asian timber frame buildings are, firstly, the insufficiency of the major construction material, timber, secondly inefficiency of construction compared to modern buildings, and lastly, lack of standardization for building elements. For example, the parts of the roof structure such as the wooden bracketing system were a difficult part for industrialization due to their complexity of joinery by minute elements.

Joint studies

However, by virtue of advanced computer techniques and digital fabrication, East Asian traditional architecture may have intriguing and challenging new design possibilities. Particularly, complex assemblies in traditional buildings such as the wooden bracket system known as dou-gong in China and gong-po in Korea will benefit from today’s technology.

Model studies

Since the early 20th centuries, traditional East Asian architecture has faced impending extinction, which Liang Sicheng has stated in his notable book, “Pictorial History of Chinese Architecture”. The traditional timber frame building in East Asian countries such as China, Japan, and Korea has been replaced by a new building system such as reinforced concrete and steel frames. Moreover, globalization blurred the boundaries between countries of different continents so that characteristics in regional architecture had become ambiguous and easily absorbed into single contemporary architectural paradigm. This situation has seen traditional East Asian architecture lose its realm, one which had lasted for thousands years.

Tree VI

The purpose of the "Tree Series" is to analyze the traditional bracket system and recreate it in order for the structure and fabrication process to be compatible with the contemporary industry of architecture. However, the "Tree Series" rejects a process called "modernization" of traditional architecture, which merely aims at efficiency of construction and imitation of a traditional style. Rather, the "Tree Series" aims for a totally new, experimental and radical rebirth of the traditional system.

Tree IV

The potential of the wooden bracket system comes from its flexibility in terms of size and form. Unlike other structural systems, the wooden bracket system is made of the combination of joinery between discrete wooden members. This versatile combination could theoretically be applied on different scales. It is also possible to create various roof shapes by changing the angle of joinery. The morphological variation of the bracket system, which begins at the top of the pillar, produces a cantilever to support eaves by fractal-like (or tree-like) proliferation.

Tree VIII

The bracket system with this geometric transformation combined with the curved elements of the eaves makes up the character of East Asian wooden architecture. The Tree Series is about finding new opportunities to evolve the system, taking advantage of its mathematical variations by using algorithmic design and digital fabrication technologies.

Finally, the “Tree Series” shows the potential of digital design and construction methodologies to replace the work that only skilled carpenters can accomplish in the past.

Media: archdaily