SCI-Arc opened a new exhibition last Friday, curated by Class of 1995 M.Arch graduate Gordon Kipping, that documents the development of mass timber within contemporary architecture. 

Inspired by Le Corbusier’s 1914–15 Dom-Ino House prototype, Maison de Cartes presents examples both in the form of physical models and via a special augmented reality (AR) application to deliver a narrative about timber's ability and potential to meet the challenge of climate change in different typological contexts worldwide.

The exhibition culminates years of research into engineering and sustainable construction methods and Kipping's belief that timber architecture can play a role in alleviating the impinging housing crisis in Los Angeles and abroad.

SCI-Arc says: "It's a testament to his conviction that architects should pay more attention to such societal issues, exploring tangible ways to mitigate them through sustainable practices." After the show concludes, a module for an emergency shelter that can be disassembled and reassembled is included as a further example of the material's capacity to deliver housing solutions that benefit the homeless community through speed and the cost of deliverability. 

Maison de Cartes runs through June 2nd at the SCI-Arc Gallery in downtown Los Angeles.