Abstract:
Mass production of consumer items is something we have become accustomed to. It has become the backbone of modern fabrication in the majority of design disciplines today, even if this is not so apparent on the surface. Technological improvements have allowed high precision automated equipment to produce highly complex and innovative structures. A adoption of automated technologies can allow for mass produced off the shelf building materials to be used effectively, giving designers the opportunity to engage with mass customised products that are accessible and affordable. Furniture companies like Ikea have created easy to assemble flat pack products. They have become the industry standard in many countries due to their affordability, functionality and aesthetics. The success of flat pack furniture can be attributed to the simplicity of its detailed components that meet structural requirements and to an easily assembly method that requires minimal effort and tools (for example an allen-key). Is it possible for this type of design rigour to be adopted and adapted within architecture? Critical Question: How can automated digital fabrication techniques, along side a simple adaptable construction system be effectively used to create customised flat pack architecture? This thesis will investigate and explore design methods and detailing within flat pack furniture with an aim to create an efficient assembly process that can be applied to a building structure.