By Jessica Hoang Chen
An exploration of a half lapped, slide-to-lock wood joint in an abstract, parametric, vertically hung and loaded application [a suspended walkway amongst the trees].
THE ELEMENTS
The wooden elements are comprised of a variety of 1/2” thick lumber, pre-formed to specific curvatures, and then combined into glulam members.
THE JOINTS
The glulam member joints are then fabricated with an 8-axis robot in a deductive method [removal of material]. Pins would not be required, as the joint stays in place with gravity and vertical loads [weight of the elements]. Secondary finger joints were considered for assembly flexibility as well as to thread the top tension cables.
