The pavilion’s prefabricated flax fiber truss was wrapped in a waterproof skin and wound together using a robotic process designed by the University of Stuttgart’s Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture (or IntCDC). Working together with the new technology, both teams were able to parlay a decade of research into the 1.5-ton load-bearing structure comprised of 15 different coreless filament components. Researchers pointed to the material’s lightweight efficiency and low embodied energy as potential drivers of sustainability. 

Per the architect: “The pre-defined component shape emerges only through the interaction of the fibers within the winding frame, eliminating the need for any additional mold or core. In addition, this fabrication method does not produce any waste or offcuts. Moreover, the same modular winding frame can be used for all geometrically varying elements. This leads to an excellent material efficiency when measured against conventional building materials and results in a high load-bearing capacity.”