WALDEN DESIGN-BUILD
Rethinking Mainstream High-Performance Envelope Development
Under the guidance of Jonathan Knowles, a team of RISD students spent a semester developing a new form of high-performance envelope construction, minimizing material waste, inaccessible assembly, and breaks in the water barrier. Through the use of CNC technology, the team worked together to develop proprietary building technology and products allowing an end user to quickly erect a structure in an afternoon without the use of screws and maintaining the continuity of WRB. Additionally, the walls have been designed to decrease thickness in comparison to other industry-standard high-performance walls without compromising the energy efficiency of the structure. The structure built in Providence, RI is set to be disassembled and exhibited in Europe.
The structure rests on an adjustable foundation, keeping the wood away from the water on the ground and allowing for quick assembly on various ground conditions.
A new building technique was developed for the assembly of the hard cladding. A proprietary 3D-printed product fastens the cladding to the furring strips behind.
Soft and hard cladding are married in the interior. This allows for lightweight transport of materials and variation in wall panels.
Wood cladding wraps around 2 faces and the roof of the structure, The wood is treated with Pine Tar for UV protection and Raw Linseed oil for weather protection. The front and back faces are cladded with an aluminum facade.