A Modular Interlocking Element for Material‑Efcient Stereotomy Construction

In the last decade, research interest in digital stereotomy has been renewed, with efciency as a popular objective. However, along with a mainstream focus on full
customization, comes a paradox of efcient design yet inefcient fabrication. Provoked by this situation, the potential of modular stereotomy is explored here. By utilizing a parametric design approach and rapid additive prototyping method, sequential experiments were executed to test seventy variations of units. As a result, a clear workfow and an optimized design were generated and used
to form a modular stereotomy construction. Finally, efciency was achieved from three standpoints: main material efciency through complete modularity, supporting material efciency through total elimination of shims and up to 91% reduction in falsework, and material use-value maximization through an easy assembly of form and a selection of up to six diferent constructional strategies to build arches with similar shape and volume