A Modular Interlocking Element for Material-Efficient Stereotomy Construction

In the last decade, research interest in digital stereotomy has been renewed, with efficiency as a popular objective. However, along with a mainstream focus on full customization, comes a paradox of efficient design yet inefficient 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 workflow and an optimized design were generated and used to form a modular stereotomy construction. Finally, efficiency was achieved from three standpoints: main material efficiency through complete modularity, supporting material efficiency 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 different constructional strategies to build arches with similar shape and volume.