In their model study programme at Bucky Lab, the students start with an idea based on a physical, technical or material-specific principle. This is then further developed in interdisciplinary exchange with specialist planners and representatives from industry in such a way that (industrial) implementation is possible in principle.
The construction of a prototype in the mobile workshop of the Bucky Lab serves to check the own planning, to discover possible errors in the concept and to optimize the construction based on the initial error analyses. During the semester, students use both CAD software and structural analysis programmes to test and optimize their virtual prototype on screen.
However, only the construction of the prototype shows whether the concept can be implemented in principle and whether the chosen design meets the expectations. The Bucky Lab works according to the Fast Failure Method, which allows a quick detection of errors.
Convey building construction and facade technology in a practical way
The load-bearing structures of the prototypes are usually made of wood and polyurethane (obomodulan), which imitate classic facade or window constructions made of steel, aluminium or wood. The prototypes are made with a variety of materials, which are often borrowed from other product areas.
At the Bucky Lab, the focus is always on function, so that the prototype can also be tested. In the later elaboration in construction drawings, these ideas are then converted into realisable constructions with application-specific materials.
Below you see the three projects that we will present in more detail over the next few weeks. The projects presented here not only show the inventiveness of the students, but also lead to applications that can be used in buildings in cooperation with industry. The aim of the course is to convey building construction and facade technology in a practical way and the lively discussions with industrial partners help the students to better understand the problems and demands of the market. Students who have thus deepened their knowledge on facades during their Master's degree already have a good foundation for their future careers.
Over the coming weeks, we will be presenting a number projects from the Bucky Lab. As they are published, links to the articles will be added here:
