Upcycling Wood in Discrete Architectural Systems

This project reimagines underutilised off-cuts and waste wood as a valuable resource for modular architectural components. Rather than downcycling, it proposes a sustainable design and construction framework that upcycles irregular timber through a systematic process involving digital scanning, classification, and generative aggregation.

Off-cut wood is first categorised by sectional dimensions and modularised into standardised lengths. These are digitally transformed into voxel sets and aggregated using the Wave Function Collapse (WFC) algorithm—a constraint-based programming method for solving 3D combinatorial problems. Voxels are arranged by design typology, and design parameters are used to control their spatial configurations. The resulting formations are joined with folded metal connectors, allowing flexible assembly and reconfiguration.

To address challenges in geometry and reuse potential, a two-step framework is employed:

1. Material Reclamation System – 3D scanning captures the geometry and properties of each off-cut to build a material database.

2. Structural Generation and Assessment System – Voxel packing, screening, and finite element analysis (FEA) are used to generate structurally optimized designs before construction.

This workflow enables reclaimed wood to be transformed into functional and aesthetically rich architectural elements at scales ranging from furniture to full buildings, offering a new circular design language rooted in material intelligence.