Abstract
This article comes from a collaboration between the departments of Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, the College of Natural Resources at the University of Idaho (US), and a team from Auburn University’s (US) School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, known collectively as the PrinTimber Group. The focus of this work is to develop an additive manufacturing construction technique that repurpose the 20% of wood waste from wood-product manufacturing and wood construction waste that currently goes to landfills. The idea is to use this material in novel combinations with various additives in order to create a high-performance biobased construction material. This article discusses the challenges inherent to the development of this new building technology, with particular focus on the role of architecture within a multidisciplinary team. The discussion is structured around the thinking of French philosopher of technology, Gilbert Simondon.