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Adaptive Timber Towers. An Evolutionary Prototype for the 21st Century Skyscraper

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Digital Wood Design

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering ((LNCE,volume 24))

Abstract

The biological metaphor introduced by computational design, as well as the increasing theoretical framework of parametric architecture, opens new perspectives for both wood and skyscraper design. At the intersection of architecture, biology, and computer science, avant-garde designers are resha** the historical relationship between nature and architecture fostering a natural approach to design which results in: structural lightness, rational use of energy and elegance. Wood seems to be a perfect material to engage with this new period of design research, and while timber towers are getting higher, there is a strong interest in understanding to which extent wood can represent a valuable alternative to those materials that have characterized the recent architectural debate. Analyzing the emerging type of the wooden skyscraper within the context of globalization, technological advances, and ecology; the authors present their vision for the 21th-century skyscraper. Based on parametric design and evolutionary principles, the proposed model can adapt to different contexts and conditions, providing different solutions as the result of the interaction with the surrounding environment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    Alessandro Buffi & Gian Maria Angelini

Authors
  1. Alessandro Buffi
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  2. Gian Maria Angelini
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Correspondence to Alessandro Buffi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Polo di Ingegneria, PERUGIA, Perugia, Italy

    Fabio Bianconi

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    Marco Filippucci

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Buffi, A., Angelini, G.M. (2019). Adaptive Timber Towers. An Evolutionary Prototype for the 21st Century Skyscraper. In: Bianconi, F., Filippucci, M. (eds) Digital Wood Design. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 24. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03676-8_39

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03676-8_39

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-03675-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-03676-8

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