VernaculAR

Project details

Programme

Research Cluster RC9

VernaculAR proposes a fast and affordable system for building low-cost housing in Chinese rural areas, by weaving a series of bent bamboo elements. Use of Augmented Reality guides in fabrication allows people without previous construction knowledge to engage in the construction of local communities. An Augmented Reality app for Hololens is developed in order to guide the construction process, in which the builders will bend and assemble bamboo in place following holographic templates.

Students

Project Background and Material Research

Project Background

The site is located in a mountainous area inhabited by ethnic minorities. Transportation of industrial building materials is difficult, and multistory architecture is unsuitable for rural environments.

Concept

This project aims to build up a design and fabrication platform for vernacular architecture using Augmented Reality tools.

Bamboo Material

Bamboo is widely regarded as a promising sustainable resource with a remarkable regeneration speed, suitable as a building material that helps reduce deforestation.

Making the First Prototype

With digital bending simulation and AR tools, the team uses hard bamboo strips to make the first design prototype. The result proves the feasibility of force simulation.