Application:

  • The world of construction, being a major polluter, longs for sustainable construction solutions.
  • With the growing architectural tendency towards complex shapes and a high level of variation in the architectural envelope, the existing, mold-based production methods are an obstacle in the environmental aspect. The huge investment in raw material, in its processing, machine hours, man hours, and transport volume that are channeled today to create single-use molds and determine the shape of the material lead to a high carbon footprint and energy inefficiency. Thus, there is an urgent need for sustainable fabrication of surfaces while protecting the environment.

Our innovation:

A sustainable manufacturing alternative for architectural elements in free geometry, through the self-shaping of thin sheets from composite materials, in an efficient, cost-effective, and pollution-reducing fabrication process, which does not require the use of molds and reduces transportation volumes.

Advantages:

  • While relying on novel physical knowledge, our method requires minimal modifications of standard fabrication processes.
  • We wish to integrate existing production technologies in the field of composite materials, in order to streamline the process and maximize self-design capabilities.
  • The technological tools used (means for controlled fiber placement, robotic arm) are in commercial use in the market. The raw materials for the construction of the composite sheet are off-the-shelf products (fiberglass prepreg UD). Our method will be suitable for flat-pack storage and transportation. The emergence of the programmed 3D shape occurs on site, upon triggering.

Opportunity:                

  • Our technology will enable the production of surfaces from composite materials with free geometry, for architectural application.
  • The penetration of composite materials into the architectural market is gradual, with significant growth in the last decade. The construction sector constitutes currently only around 10% of the global composite materials market and is estimated to 10 billion dollars, with an annual growth rate of 6%.
  • From this general sector, the target market intended for development is covering facades of specific buildings (ie: public buildings, elements in the public space, and luxury residential buildings). In Israel, out of about 400-500 thousand square meters of building facades per year (expected for the year 2025), we could reach 5-10% of those surfaces to apply our technology.

Creative Differences, by Automorph

London design biennale 2023, Somerset House

‘The Swirl’

Self-shaping composite panels

Video projected in the exhibition about ‘The Swirl’ and its design and fabrication process.