Model Wokshop | Anne Lea

Designing and building from a single source – A model workshop for architecture

Vaduz – When the provisional building used for the model workshop, which was built in 2007, started to show signs of wear and tear, it became necessary to replace it. Various design studios had already applied themselves to the construction task, but the realisation failed repeatedly due to a whole number of causes. Now a new model workshop for architecture at the University of Liechtenstein has been created.

To readdress the issue, in October 2016 the project leaders at the University of Liechtenstein linked up the building project to a workshop under the Erasmus+ programme “Crafting the façade”, coordinated by the University of Liechtenstein and co-organised with the Academie van Bouwkunst, Amsterdam, and the Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow. For three days, the students experimented with wooden boards and beams and developed structural concepts for the model workshop. Following initial models and tests in the studio, the structures were built on site by the students on a 1:1 scale.

Design and process
These prototypes were the starting point for further development in an experimental process in which the authorship was shared within the design team. Two interlinked studios (Design Studio Urs Meister and Design Studio Carmen Rist-Stadelmann) from the Bachelor's degree programme took up the structural concepts and further developed them right up to the implementation of the entire building. First of all, the available support structures were examined and compared with each other. Following an analysis and research stage, four of the original eight variants remained for the construction of the model workshop. These were revised, subjected as prototypes on a 1:1 scale to construction tests by students from the first year together with second and third-year students within the design studio, and then built. In a selection process it was established which supporting structure had proved to be both innovative and feasible. During a seminar week, the students then produced the structural components in the workshop in collaboration with a carpenter and at the end of the week erected them at the location behind the university on the foundations prepared by the master builder.

Arch and tension
The support structure of the workshop consists of curved boards, designed in the form of an arch and suspended in an undulating form on a fixed mounted gauge offset by half the width. The counter tension ensures the static height despite the fineness of the boards. To allow the bending, it was necessary to plane the boards to the appropriate thickness in accordance with the radius. In order to optimise the individual support elements, a large number of trials and break tests were necessary. The connections between the upper and lower belt were ensured using glued hardwood wedges and just a small number of visible screws. Roof elements of one meter width were thus produced in the workshop, which are stable in themselves and nevertheless easy to handle. Erecting became an easy task that was possible manually with the help of just a few supports. An overlying layer of boards gives the structure longitudinal stability and forms the base for a moderate insulation level, rear ventilation and finally the weather protection made of larch shingles. The assembled, additively organised structure is extremely intricate and elegantly demonstrates the tension inherent in the wood.

Hands-on as a teaching method
The change of scale during the design process created a tension that goes beyond the classical, linear development from large to small. The continual enhancement of conceptual ideas from the initial sketches to the prototype on a 1: 1 scale allowed things to be uncovered that became crucial for the further process. Moving back and forth from the level of detail and haptic reality to the building as a whole and its expression in a type of design echo is, in the opinion of Professor Urs Meister and Dr Carmen Rist-Stadelmann, crucial in order to achieve innovative architecture. The constant enhancing and fine-tuning in a process with changing perspectives and different distances to the designed object not only increases the constructive precision, but also the quality of the realised design as a whole. During the development of the model workshop at the design level, the second and third-year students were responsible for the overall management. The reviewing and implementation of these ideas was made jointly with the first-year Bachelor’s students. In accordance with the progress in the construction process, the students solved various construction tasks such as the roof and wall construction, the front facades, the roof lantern and the entire interior work in order to build them on a 1: 1 scale. The real-scale experience here is an invaluable asset for the students and, in a broader sense, benefits architecture education in general thanks to the direct teaching concept. Since the mid-20th century, computer-dominated design has increasingly driven out development based on materials from architectural education. However, as shown in the current debate, a reversal of this attitude is increasingly evident and now once again is an important pillar in the curricula of European architecture schools. The students themselves found that they benefit from direct contact with the materials used in drilling, sawing, planing and shingling. This also helps them in future to understand the constructive relationships in a sustainable way.

Craftsmanship
In the development phase of the model workshop, the focus was on the aspect of craftsmanship right from the start. The term craftsmanship was not only seen as creating things manually, but also as examining the logic of joining materials to form a characteristic expression. The fact that the construction was mostly realised by unskilled students without any prior experience played an important role during the development. Computer-dominated processes were not even considered. It was far more about the students’ experiences of building on a 1:1 scale and a craftsmanship process characterised by allowing experiments with the material. To ensure that these aspects were present in the implementation, the students were given expert assistance by the carpentry firm Frommelt with Christoph Frommelt and his craftsmen providing support in realising the 1:1 scale with calmness and foresight. In addition to the development process, the result of the building and the craftsmanship involved ultimately played a decisive role – the process and the product are regarded as equal goals in the realisation of the new model workshop.

Cultural identity
In the interplay of practice and teaching, embedded in the cultural and social environment, the traditionally anchored craftsmanship that can be found in the region is passed on and transformed in architecture education. As well as strengthening the awareness of one's own cultural identity, this also sensitises individuals about the use of local resources and wood as a building material – an important conveyer of cultural identity. In this way, social, architectural and societal aspects flow into teaching. On the other hand, the students are able to directly identify with the object built thanks to their active integration into the design and construction process. When involved in the construction, people identify more strongly with the building than if the premises had simply been made available ready for occupancy. This social aspect, working together as a team to create the new spaces and the experiences gained from this, further expresses the students' understanding of the material in their designs. This is one aspect of strengthening the cultural identity of the region and craftsmanship in architectural education that should not be underestimated. In the era of globalisation this is of great importance.

Quotes:

“ ... In general, I think that it is a great advantage that we learn so much craftsmanship in this project, because I am sure that as future architects, we can make very good use of this knowledge. After all, if you know the material, then you know what the material is capable of ...”
Miriam Ender, Student

“ ... In summary, this project provides an exciting link between the design process and the construction process. Working on real projects provides us architecture students with an important insight into the craftsmanship of the various building trades …”
Jakob Fliri, Student

“ … It was no longer just a fictional project – we were responsible for a building that will serve the students at the University of Liechtenstein for a long time to come …”
Kerstin Thurnher, Student

Authors: Professor Urs Meister and Dr Carmen Rist-Stadelmann

Factbox:

- Building owner: University of Lichtenstein, Institute of Architecture and Planning

- m2: 72

- Basic construction: 320 five-meter wooden slats, bent to form the basic construction through tension

- Project participants:

Design studio Urs Meister: Urs Meister
Althammer Philipp, Ammer Christoph, Göbel Viviane, Herle Vivia, Meissner Alexandra, Nägele Lino, Paletta Albert, Rieder Dionys, Schober Fabio, Thurnher Kerstin.

Design studio Carmen Rist-Stadelmann: Carmen Rist-Stadelmann
Alge Pia, Bayer Manuel, Bernegg Seraina, Bolter-Allgäuer Petra, Brandstetter Andreas, Capol Selina, Ciftcioglu Ahmet, Cosentino Angela, Cutieri Rocco, Demir Eda, De Sa Ruben, Düringer Alexander, Egger Simon, Ender Miriam, Fetz David, Fliri Jakob, Florineth Elena, Freund Andrea , Ganahl Stefanie, Gill Sandeep, Gohm Miriam, Hancer Merve, Hartmann Lennon, Hasler Juliana, Heeb Florian, Jug Chiara, Karokoc Eslem, Keller Serena, Kerle David, Kuster Claudia, Landinger Sören, Marinelli Natalie, Müller Christoph, Natter Gebhard, Neff Ellena, Oksakowski Nina, Sauseneg Oscar, Schädler Sarah, Schmid Lara, Schneider Nadine, Schwitter Romana, Stecher Emilie, Thöny Sara, Tschenett Joanne, Verling Stefan, Winter Aurelia, Zauner Marcella, Zwickl Maximilian.

Carpenter: Frommelt Ing. Holzbau AG: Christoph Frommelt
Christoph Willinger, David Eberle, Martin Lorez, Pascal Benzer, Viktor Seethaler

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Universität Liechtenstein

Die Universität Liechtenstein ist jung, regional verankert und international aktiv. In den Bereichen Architektur und Raumentwicklung, Entrepreneurship, Finanzdienstleistungen und Wirtschaftsinformatik wirkt sie als innovativer Denkplatz im Vierländereck Liechtenstein, Ostschweiz, Vorarlberg und süddeutsche Bodenseeregion. In zahlreichen Projekten und Programmen gibt sie Impulse für Wirtschaft, Politik und Gesellschaft. Seit über 50 Jahren werden gefragte Fachkräfte aus- und weitergebildet. Das Studium erfolgt in einem sehr persönlichen Umfeld. www.uni.li                               .