Pavilion, puzzle, sculpture & skyscraper - 4 spectacular examples of 3D wood design

Wood is a material with a fascinating story that has been used for the construction of buildings, tools and objects since ancient times. Even in the Stone Age, people recognized the versatile properties of wood and appreciated its robustness and flexibility.

Nevertheless, the fear of fires in the past centuries has led to a decline in the use of wood as a building material. But now an era of rediscovering the wood is due, in which its sustainable properties and aesthetic advantages are increasingly valued again. Not only in construction, interior design and architecture, but also for sculptors and product designers, the renewable raw material is used again.

The renaissance of wood design has come to stay - as a symbol of environmental awareness, innovation and timeless beauty.

Wood has numerous advantages in the design

Holz has always played an essential role as a material in art production and design . Holz takes up a central position in areas such as the sculpture, the carving and even when finishing living rooms. Its versatility and natural beauty make it an indispensable resource in the art world.

With the help of wood, artists can create innovative and unique designs that are both visually appealing and functional. In addition, due to its natural properties, wood also offers practical advantages: as an insulation material , it exceeds many other materials, which contributes to a pleasant indoor climate . The skilful processing and design of wood not only create impressive works of art, but also practical objects that enrich and beautify our everyday life.

A major advantage of wood as an artistic medium is its broad applicability and sustainability. It can be shaped, carved, burned, stained and polished to achieve a variety of textures and effects. In addition, wood is a renewable raw material, which makes it particularly attractive at a time when ecological awareness increases.

The design options of wood are almost unlimited, which enables designers to give rooms, buildings, sculptures and products of all kinds a special charm and a soft character.

The meaning of wood in art history

Holz has always played a central role in art history and has fascinated with its versatility and natural beauty. Since the beginning of mankind, wood has been used as material for creative forms of expression, from primitive carvings to complex sculptures and architectural masterpieces.

Holz offers a unique combination of formability and resistance, which enables artists to create both functional and aesthetic objects.

Early cultures and wood art

Even in the earliest cultures, the meaning of wood is shown as an artistic medium. In the prehistoric period, wood not only served practical purposes, but also played a spiritual or magical role.

Archaeological finds show that wood carvings were widespread as ritual objects, pictures of gods or simple pieces of jewelry. These early works lay the foundation for the multifaceted development of wood art over the centuries.

Medieval championship

In the Middle Ages, wood art experienced a heyday, especially in church art . Wood was the main material for altars, pulpit and figures of saints. Elaborate carvings adorned the interiors of churches and cathedrals and told biblical stories in detailed representations.

A remarkable example is the altar of Veit Fahr in the Marienkirche of Krakow , a masterpiece of late Gothic, which impresses with its size and fullness.

Tilman Riemenschneider , another outstanding artist of this era, created numerous sculptures and reliefs, which are primarily impressing with their fine elaboration and emotional expression.

Renaissance and Baroque

During the Renaissance and the Baroque , wood was still used to a large scale, often in combination with other materials such as marble and bronze. During this time, new techniques and styles developed that caught wood art to a new level.

Intarsia work , in which different types of wood were put together into complex patterns, reached a climax. These works of art were an expression of luxury and craftsmanship and decorated palaces and noble houses. An outstanding example are the Intarsia in the Duke of Urbino's studio , created by Federico da Montefeltro , creating illusions of shelves, books and musical instruments.

Modern and contemporary wood art

In the 20th and 21st centuries, Holz found a permanent place in modern and contemporary art. Artists like Constantin Brâncuși and Georg Baselitz used wood to create abstract forms that emphasize the natural properties of the material.

Brâncuși's work "Endless Column" is an iconic example that represents the idea of ​​infinity and uses wood in its pure, unmoved form.

The German artist Georg Baselitz, with his provocative and controversial works of art, always causes a sensation and surprise. Born in 1938, he not only shaped the neo-expressionism movement, but is also a talented sculptor who also rely on the building material wood.

At his first exhibition, he triggered a scandal and was charged with disruption to public order - but he has retained this provocative style to this day. His carvings are as controversial as it is radical, for example, he made a wooden sculpture with a chainsaw. His sculpture "Model for a Sculpture" , which he presented at the Biennale in Venice, was always a topic of conversation and was reminded of an observer of a man who shows the Hitler salute.

Today, many contemporary artists work with recycled wood to draw attention to how important sustainability is in art. Ai Weiwei used, for example, antique wood made of teahuizi and temples to create monumental installations that address both cultural traditions as well as current social issues.

4 impressive examples of 3D wood design and wooden art from the 21st century

While we have taken a little digression into the past centuries, we are now returning to the present. Here we would like to give 4 spectacular applications and outstanding examples of the latest wood design. The fact that all 4 examples come from different areas come to the variety.

01 Bionischer wood pavilion in Spinelli Park, Mannheim

This iconic wood pavilion consists of precisely assembled segments that merged like a refined 3D puzzle. This temporary construction acts as a pioneering architectural attraction. The "Buga-Holzpavillon", designed by the renowned Institute for Computer-based design and construction (ICD) in cooperation with the Institute for Building Construction and S struct-ups (ITKE) of the University of Stuttgart, explores new standards in the field of digital timber construction .

The building envelope was designed using the biological principles of the cladding of seeding, which were previously researched on the ICD and ITKE of the University of Stuttgart for almost a decade. In the course of the project, a robot assembly platform was developed to automate and mill the 376 custom -made hollow wood segments of the pavilion - a process that ensures that all segments such as a three -dimensional puzzle match.

The wooden roof extends over a total length of 30 meters (98 feet) and thus offers enough space for events and concerts.

In order to efficiently reduce the material consumption and weight, the wood segments were made of two thin panels in an innovative construction and framed at the top and below by edge beams. This leads to large -format hollow wooden boxes with polygonal shape.

An outstanding architectural feature is the spacious opening in the floor slab, which not only offers a attractive sight, but also enables access to the hidden connections during assembly. In assembled condition, the structure takes over a significant design function due to its striking and twice curved geometry.

Each individually manufactured formwork segment was precisely composed by robots. This included the exact positioning of prefabricated wooden panels and bars, their temporary fixation with book nails and the exact application of the structural glue between the plate and the beam. The complex wedge tines and openings were then incorporated into the segments.

The entire process is fully automated, controlled by 2 million individual lines of robot code. The assembly time per segment amounts to an average of 8 minutes, with the high-precision milling takes up an additional 20-40 minutes.

02 via CAD modeling & laser cutting to filigree 3D wood puzzles

You probably didn't expect something “banales” like a puzzle in this list. Then you have definitely not experienced a complex 3D wood puzzle with its many small components in action. Because here you can observe mechanical principles gear gear for gear in a precise functional symbiosis when executing.

If an electric motor is added to the company, one can speak of a filigree total work of art that instantly recalls our very own fascination for construction and technology from children's years.

Take a look at the Marble Spaceport (LGC01) from Robotime , a kind of futuristic marble track from hundreds of laser -cut and composed wooden elements, then you know what I mean:

This fascinating visual experience is a model of a ball track , which is kept in dark gray and decorated with silver dots. The product from the Rokr Track Maze City series was developed under the subject of future space technologies.

The peculiarity of this ball track lies in its complex mechanical structures, consisting of 6 detour mechanisms and 5 rails. By turning the handle you can watch how steel balls roll along different tracks. Thanks to the highly transparent PC and PS materials, it is possible to track the movement of every ball. The Marble Spaceport also has two drive modes, manual mode and electrical mode.

While the puzzle result alone is a visual-aesthetic treat, we would like to immerse yourself a little in the exciting process of creating product design to laser cut.

Concept phase

At the beginning, the product design team develops the puzzle concept , determines size and level of difficulty, decides on functions such as lighting and sound effects as well as the purpose and special features of the puzzle.

Design phase

After the concept development, the designers create detailed sketches that reflect the topic, the concept and the defined functions. Then use CAD software (Computer Aided Design) to design every single piece of the puzzle and its connections. This software enables you to enter precise dimensions and calculations and to look at the model from different perspectives.

The designers attach particular importance to the fact that every piece of the puzzle is unique in size and shape to ensure a clear distinction. In addition, the stability of the finished puzzle and its aesthetics are taken into account. After completing the 3D model, detailed assembly instructions are created that contain images, diagrams and written explanations in order to support the user with every step of the assembly.

Prototype construction and testing

After completion, the design goes to the production team to make a pattern. Are the parts made precisely? Does the design fit the topic and is it aesthetically appealing? Do the additional features work properly?

Is the puzzle stable enough? If the test product is successfully checked, the production can begin, otherwise it will be sent back to the designer for revision.

production

As soon as the design of a 3D wood puzzle is ready for production, suitable hardwood such as maple, birch, mahogany or oak is selected. The wood is dried in the oven to prevent warp.

The puzzle parts are precisely tailored using laser cutting, scroll saws or CNC milling. The wooden parts are then finely sanded and, if necessary, stained, painted or protected.

In the end, the final puzzle is, as can be acquired by customers via the Robotime online shop.

Other complex puzzle designs are a functioning pinball machine ...

... and a fully functional printer press with interchangeable printing plates:

03 Secca's Holz-Puzzle sculpture 'A↔unun'

The Japanese artist and designer group Secca connects the topic of puzzle with visual bombast with design and art. Your impressive wooden sculpture 'A↔︎un' is a stummer witness to this symbiosis.

The creative group Secca from Japan has put together 15,000 artificial pieces of wood to form a complex sculpture that is reminiscent of a three -dimensional puzzle. The work with the title "A↔︎un" shows a few a-un Komainu (protective lion dogs) that arise from the connection of each individual pixel-like part.

In this project, it was researched how digital technology affects our relationship with nature by combining traditional Japanese techniques and concepts with the latest technology.

The couple is within a sequence of frames that are reminiscent of a digital device and represent a parallel world. This world exists countless times in a virtual space that is projected by front and rear-view mirrors.

People have admired and envied what nature is capable of, and while we desperately try to imitate these creations and artificially reproduce, we have made progress in technology ”,,”

told secca to the international design magazine design boom in the article: Thousands of Artificial Wood Pieces Compose Secca's Puzzle Sculpture 'A↔︎un' . Further explain your art project:

What started as a figurative painting, the act of replica of a scene observed by the viewer, now enables the structural colors of morpho-butterflies, organs, genes and even personality traits to reproduce an individual. Wood can also be made artificially. While this was originally two-dimensional by printing simple wood patterns on flat surfaces, the state-of-the-art 3D printing technology has developed so far that it is able to reproduce the finest humps of a vascular bundle, which makes it difficult to distinguish it from real wood. We like to have trees nearby, but we never feel satisfied with what we have, but create artificial trees that are more convenient for us. What we enjoy in the end is a room surrounded by artificial trees that look real. ”

The three -dimensional object was created by the connection of parts that look like pixels, similar to a virtual image that was materialized by digital data. Depending on the point of view of the viewer, the back of the artificial wood structure becomes visible, which shows all imperfections of the digital world.

The frame that envelops the two Komainu sculptures is similar to a digital device that invites visitors to a virtual space that is projected by the front and rear mirrors. According to Secca, it shows how much people in today's society appreciate diversity and also expand the topics in which they are looking for consolation in the digital world .

"A↔Un" was part of the exhibition "Kiinseido: Hirakushi Denchu ​​and Works that combine tradition with the future" at the Meiji-Jingu Waldkunstfestival 2021 in Tokyo.

04 Mjøstårnet - the highest wooden skyscraper, Norway

Wood is currently very popular due to its diverse advantages. Some construction developers even consider it the ideal building material for the construction of skyscrapers in technologically advanced countries. It is therefore not surprising that Norway, a country with large wood resources and at the forefront of social development, is a pioneer of this trend.

Mjøstårnet was built here in 2019 (referred to in English as Plyscraper ) .

An impressive structure with a height of 85.4 meters, 18 floors and a usable area of ​​10,500 square meters, which consists entirely of a sustainable raw material in the region, impresses with its mere key data. An innovative assembly process was used, in which the wooden beams were precisely transported and placed to the construction site.

This required the highest precision, such as Rune Abrahamsen, CEO of the Scandinavian industrial group Moelven Limtre, which provided the construction products and systems for the project, emphasized in an interview after a successful completion. When assembling, there was no room for errors, since it was essentially like a Lego kit for adults.

By using the modular approach, the several hundred bretting wood carriers could be installed within just ten months. As a result, Mjøstårnet quickly took shape in the small town of Brumunddal. Lars Ivar Lindberg's assembly manager proudly expressed at the opening ceremony:

It is an impressive feeling to raise their place almost 20 meters of the building height. Both the building and our pride grew together. "

The building is now covered. Part of the tower serves as living space while another part houses offices. There is also a hotel, restaurants and even a large swimming pool with an area of ​​4,700 m².

As is already evident, the Mjøstårnet not remain record holder for very long. A number of even more ambitious, vertical timber construction projects have already started that reach for the stars. The race for the highest wooden high-rise in the world is already in full swing.

What we stood today as impressive achievements is in turn in the shade by another project in Tokyo: there is currently working on the construction of a so -called "PLYSCRAPER" called W350 .

On the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the building material giant Sumitomo Forestry , the company plans to build a 350 meter high wooden building as a monument to the company's history.

Completion is planned for 2041.

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza. Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.

www.kunstplaza.de/