Conference on Wood Technologies: Domestic Scale Trials at Torcuato Di Tella University Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Organized by: Architecture and Technology Program.

Presentation: Francisco Cadau.

Tectonic Explorations

Although coming from ancient traditions and relatively little used in our region, the construction in wood – its tectonic foundations and architectural performance – remains fully valid in the current development of the profession.

The conference will present two residential projects in Uruguay in which strategies have been developed that combine traditional aspects of wood construction with new possibilities arising from technological developments in design, crafts and industry. It will analyze topics such as its capacity and versatility to support loads – as a load-bearing wall and as an independent structure -, solve mezzanines and roofs, resist lateral efforts, incorporate infrastructures and provide closing and opening modes, as well as prefabrication and assembly strategies. Based on technology, both projects integrate daily professional commissions with opportunities for disciplinary tests and architectural sensibilities of their own.