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SPENI inquires into emerging relations of material, technology & construction, Prof. Frank Bauer, Prof. Markus Lager + team

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What happens when the timber of the future is not straight, perfect and standardized?

A look back at Robotics Thinking Assemblies at Angermuseum Erfurt — a project exhibition that did not simply present results, but made an open field of research visible.

At its centre were crooked, slender and irregular timbers: thinning wood that is often considered low-value or difficult to use. In the context of climate-resilient forests and changing regional timber stocks, precisely this material is becoming increasingly relevant.

The exhibition shifts the perspective: away from the idealized building material, towards material with deviations, specific qualities and constructive potential.

On view were models, material samples, work fragments and processes at the intersection of digital construction, robotic fabrication, material research, teaching and public outreach.

The exchange that followed was especially valuable. The conversations made clear that this is not only a technical question, but a shift in architectural practice: How do we design when material is no longer anonymous, standardized and endlessly available?

These questions connect to broader concerns in architectural research today: how existing resources, material cycles, 1:1 prototypes and situated interventions can shape new forms of practice. The exhibition opened a field for further collective research — between forest, workshop, robot, museum, university and construction site.

Many thanks to the Speculative Engineering Institute, Angermuseum Erfurt, Fachhochschule Erfurt and everyone involved for the invitation, the inspiring conversations and the shared work on these questions.

Funded by CZS Forschungsstart and CZS Wissenschaftskommunikation by @carl_zeiss_stiftung

Guest Researchers: Anna Bajanova & Widjaja Martokusumo
Direction: Frank Bauer
Full project credits via @speculativeengineering

#RoboticsThinkingAssemblies #SPENI #DigitalFabrication #CircularDesign #TimberConstruction #DesignResearch #Bauwende #FHEArchitektur taken in Erfurt, Thuringen, Germany by @speculativeengineering

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2 months ago

We are pleased to welcome Anna Bajanova and Widjaja Martokusumo to the opening of »Robotics Thinnings Assemblies« on July 30 17:00 at Angermuseum. The open event includes a brief tour through the exhibition with many of its student authors. Feel free to come and join the discussion!

The exhibition presents thinnings — an underused and underrated resource — as a building material for future construction with emerging technologies. The experimental works ask what instigates when we begin seeing crooked, slender timber not as substandard, but as potential. They bring together robotic fabrication, material research, and engineering. The material, in all its irregularities, is used as a design driver for new structural approaches to building. The work deliberately takes its cues from the changing timber inventory of Thuringia's climate-resilient forests.

On display are models, material samples, and work fragments by a range of student authors, drawn from integrated teaching, research, and public education with partners like @joschinger and @holz21regio. In accompanying formats such as the SPENI Kinder-Uni, even the youngest visitors get a playful introduction to questions of making structures with material knowledge. The exhibition is a satellite to the »Werkschau 2026« @fherfurt_architektur.

The project is funded by CZS Forschungsstart and CZS Wissenschaftskommunikation by @carl_zeiss_stiftung. Thanks for support to the Landeshauptstadt @erfurt_de and KinderUni Erfurt.

Image Credits: @speculativeengineering
Project Credits: For all student authors, please refer to project documentations (Students), Luis Liermann, Martin Täubert, Katja Teich, Johannes Fleischer (Assistants), Anna Bajanova, Widjaja Martokusumo (Guest Researchers), Jannis May (Research Associate), Frank Bauer (Direction)

@#laubhybrid #hybridtimber #leafwood #woodinarchitecture #carlzeiss #circulardesign #digitalfabrication #timberarchitecture #experimentalbuilding #wiehe #designresearch #fabrication #timberconstruction #manufacturing #woodworking #designbuild #fhearchitektur #unbuilding #SPENI @institutteknologibandung @julianlieser @henriettehantel @der_maenz @fherfurt taken in Angermuseum by @speculativeengineering

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2 months ago

What if we saw crooked, slender timber not as substandard, but as potential? From July 30 to August 11, 2026, the exhibition »Robotics Thinnings Assemblies« at Angermuseum presents thinnings — an underused and underrated resource — as a building material for future construction with emerging technologies.

The experimental works bring together robotic fabrication, material research, and engineering. The material, in all its irregularities, is used as a design driver for new structural approaches to building. The work deliberately takes its cues from the changing timber inventory of Thuringia's climate-resilient forests.

On display are models, material samples, and work fragments by a range of student authors, drawn from integrated teaching, research, and public education with partners like @joschinger and @holz21regio. In accompanying formats such as the SPENI Kinder-Uni, even the youngest visitors get a playful introduction to questions of making structures with material knowledge. The exhibition is a satellite to the »Werkschau 2026« @fherfurt_architektur.

The project is funded by CZS Forschungsstart and CZS Wissenschaftskommunikation by @carl_zeiss_stiftung. Thanks for support to the Landeshauptstadt @erfurt_de and KinderUni Erfurt.

Image Credits: @speculativeengineering
Project Credits: For all student authors, please refer to project documentations (Students), Luis Liermann, Martin Täubert, Katja Teich, Johannes Fleischer (Assistants), Anna Bajanova, Widjaja Martokusumo (Guest Researchers), Jannis May (Research Associate), Frank Bauer (Direction)

@#laubhybrid #hybridtimber #leafwood #woodinarchitecture #carlzeiss #circulardesign #digitalfabrication #timberarchitecture #experimentalbuilding #wiehe #designresearch #fabrication #timberconstruction #manufacturing #woodworking #designbuild #fhearchitektur #unbuilding #SPENI @institutteknologibandung @julianlieser @henriettehantel @der_maenz @fherfurt taken in Angermuseum by @speculativeengineering

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2 months ago

»Irregular Regular« by Lisa-Marie Henk is a thesis developed within the LogDesignBuild project »LaubHybrid« at #SPENI. »LaubHybrid« explores how underused deciduous wood resources may inform monomaterial as well as hybrid timber construction — not as residual biomass, but as a driver of sustainable material culture and architectural experimentation.

The project proposes a construction between an existing wall and a ramp, based on bespoke innovation in reciprocal framework. The self-supporting system balances tension and compression — each log resting on two others at its ends while supporting two at its center. To accommodate the irregular geometry of small-diameter trunks, an axis is defined between the centers of the cut surfaces. All connections are aligned along this axis, maintaining a consistent position and depth regardless of the natural form of the log.

The elements are joined through overlapping slanted surfaces. After drying, this geometry allows slight movement within the joints, preventing cross-grain tension and enhancing structural stability. Each joint is secured by a clamping element that ensures precision, safety, and long-term durability. Through close collaboration with our industry partner @carvetec aka @joschinger, custom fabrication protocol and fixtures were developed to hold each trunk in exactly the same position for milling operations from all sides. Acting as a negative mold of the first-side connection, this device ensures accurate alignment during the fabrication process.

The project is funded by CZS Forschungsstart and CZS Wissenschaftskommunikation by @carl_zeiss_stiftung

Image Credits: @lisa.mr3, @speculativeengineering

Project Credits: Lisa-Marie Henk (Student), Sascha Lummitsch, Nicole Zahner (Partners), Jürgen Henschel (Industry Partner), Robin Godwyll, Jannis May (Fabrication Tutors), Frank Bauer, Markus Lager (Direction)

#logdesignbuild #laubhybrid #hybridtimber #leafwood #woodinarchitecture #circulardesign #digitalfabrication #timberarchitecture #experimentalbuilding #wiehe #designresearch #fabrication #timberconstruction #manufacturing #woodworking #designbuild #fhearchitektur #SPENI by @speculativeengineering

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6 months ago

»Tree Fork Pavillon« by Andreas Rohde is a M.A. thesis developed within the research-driven Design-Build project »Robotic Recarpentry« at SPENI.

Its material-driven approach traces the natural properties of wood as a building material back to its origin — tree growth. Rather than suppressing inherent heterogeneity through conventional industrial processing, varying fiber orientations and naturally grown geometries are deliberately embraced and put to use for emission-efficient construction. Drawing on the exceptional structural performance of natural branch junctions, a metal-free joint is developed and robotically milled, acting as a load-bearing component and basis for a distinct architectural expression.

The project is situated at the intersection of materiality, traditional carpentry and digital manufacturing. »Robotic Recarpentry« thereby explores circular, iterative workflows with reclaimed and heterogeneous timber. With resources from both the existing building stock and forestry measures, it explores adaptation as a strategy and repair as a design driver for novel structural applications.

The project is funded by CZS Forschungsstart and CZS Wissenschaftskommunikation by @carl_zeiss_stiftung.

Image Credits: @speculativeengineering
Project Credits: Julian Lieser (Student), Sascha Lummitsch, Karsten Hofmann (Partner), Jannis May (Fabrication Tutor), Frank Bauer, Markus Lager, Stefan Neuhäuser (Direction)

#logdesignbuild #laubhybrid #hybridtimber #leafwood #woodinarchitecture #circulardesign #digitalfabrication #timberarchitecture #experimentalbuilding #wiehe #designresearch #fabrication #timberconstruction #manufacturing #woodworking #designbuild #fhearchitektur #unbuilding #SPENI by @speculativeengineering

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3 months ago

»Digitally Branched« by Julian Lieser is a M.A. thesis developed within the research-driven Design-Build project »Robotic Recarpentry« at SPENI.

Situated at the intersection of materiality, traditional carpentry and digital manufacturing, »Robotic Recarpentry« explores circular, iterative workflows with reclaimed and heterogeneous timber. With resources from both the existing building stock and forestry measures, it explores adaptation as a strategy and repair as a design driver for novel structural applications.

Building on this framework, the thesis develops a branching lightweight structure from underutilized weak timber and reclaimed wood. Instead of standardizing the material, the workflow leverages its variability through digital inventorying, photogrammetric scanning and parametric design methods. Roundwood elements remain largely unprocessed, with fabrication focused on precisely defined connection zones. Laminated node components made from LVL, plywood and multiplex form a robust joining system that enables complex branching geometries while preserving the material character of the timber. By combining material-driven design with digital fabrication techniques, the project demonstrates how low-grade timber resources can be transformed into expressive and structurally effective architectural systems.

The project is funded by CZS Forschungsstart and CZS Wissenschaftskommunikation by @carl_zeiss_stiftung.

Image Credits: @julianlieser, @speculativeengineering
Project Credits: Julian Lieser (Student), Sascha Lummitsch, Karsten Hofmann (Partner), Jannis May (Fabrication Tutor), Frank Bauer, Markus Lager, Stefan Neuhäuser (Direction)

#logdesignbuild #laubhybrid #hybridtimber #leafwood #woodinarchitecture #circulardesign #digitalfabrication #timberarchitecture #experimentalbuilding #wiehe #designresearch #fabrication #timberconstruction #manufacturing #woodworking #designbuild #fhearchitektur #unbuilding #SPENI by @speculativeengineering

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4 months ago

Some recent contributions to our growing model library from our current studios »Assemble« and »Hybrid Beech« at #SPENI. Like every semester, our students begin by building and analyzing existing constructions and approach them in detail and structure. Top the whole group and beyond, they may serve as enduring references to further explore and expand our conceptions of timber and mixed assemblies. Visitors are welcome to come and study this ongoing archive at SPENI, including manifold projects from @gustavdusing and @maxhacke, @shigeruban as well as @acmespace and @knippershelbig. Open to all students and interested public.

#modelmaking #hybridconstruction #sustainableconstruction #circularbuilding #timberresearch #timberconstruction #woodworking #fhearchitektur #fhe @fherfurt_architektur #SPENI

Project Credits: Lukas Eifrig, Tom Hallbauer, Philipp Hansen, Mathis Hirschlipp, Leonie Hobert, Sara Javadi, Celina Jung, Lea Köhler, Gloria Kratzmann, Merlin Liesch, Victoria Mann, Tom Netzker, Paul Reichmuth, Lukas Sauer, Annabell Selig, Arefeh Shokrollahi, Carlo Twiste, Maja Wegner, Alexander Wiese, Jonas Wolff, Anne Katrin Zitzmann, Muhammad Faiz Baihaki, Frieder Bruns, Marian Fleischhauer, Shima Gholivand Zardalou, Kirsten Groot, Danny Grundt, Elias Günther, Helena Kaufmann, Laura Koch, Gloria Kratzmann, Maximilian Kubicekm Jil Marie Kühn, Jannes Lieder, Silas Reinke, Jan Schäfer, Matilda Taeger, Martin Täubert (Students), Frank Bauer, Markus Lager (Direction)

Image Credits: SPENI

1/2 People's Pavilion, bureau SLA & Overtreders W, Eindhoven, 2017
3 BMW Guggenheim Lab Mumbai, Atelier Bow-Wow & SDM Architects, Mumbai, 2012
4/5 REWE Green Farming, ACME, Wiesbaden, 2021
6 Collegium Academicum, DGJ Architektur, Heidelberg, 2022
7 Dome Home, R. Buckminster Fuller, Carbondale, Illinois, 1960 by @speculativeengineering

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5 months ago

»Unbuilding Commons« is a Satellite Event in line with the »New European Bauhaus Festival« 2026, aiming to reinterpret and reclaim existing structures at the experimental premises of SPENI with the network @unbuildinggroup.

Driven by a circular approach to built culture, the project is situated between experimentality and collaboration, testing how found conditions can become subject to shared, iterative, and adaptive practice. A diverse group of students and teachers from SPENI and @fhe_erfurt, local craftspeople and collaborators from Kubio GmbH and @hwk_erfurt work together to redesign and reactivate them. Through workshops, digital analysis and hands-on fabrication, the project synthesizes competencies across disciplines – unfolding hybrid constructive logics between raw timber and steel, between existing condition and new intervention, towards the 1:1 realization of an experimental hanging post.

Through shared authorship, the student body joins as active participants to further reprogram and develop the existing roof structure developed with @wearepopticum for future processes of transformation and use. Hosted at SPENI in parallel with the main festival in Brussels, »Unbuilding Commons« proposes a temporary space for exchange, collaborative learning and critical unlearning at the intersection of material culture, craft knowledge and circular building practice.

The project is supported by the Festival of the New European Bauhaus of europeancommission and CZS Wissenschaftskommunikation by @carl_zeiss_stiftung
Image Credits: c SPENI, Handwerkskammer Erfurt

Project Credits: Luis Liermann, Katja Teich, Johannes Fleischer, Martin Täubert, Silas Reinke, Frieder Bruns, Maximilian Kubicek, Marian Fleischhauer, Danny Grundt (Students) Cosima Heinz (Tutor), Jochen Reindanz, Handwerkskammer Erfurt, Holz-21-regio, Popticum Collective, Katja Fischer, Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen (Partners), Jannis May (Fabrication Tutor), Frank Bauer, Markus Lager, Stefan Neuhäuser (Direction)

#newbauhaus #nebfestival #unbuildingcommons #circulardesign #timberarchitecture #craftknowledge #materialculture #experimentalbuilding #designbuild @fherfurt_architektur #SPENI by @speculativeengineering

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3 months ago

Our recent ReclaimDesignBuild project »Machine Extended Caring« at #SPENI sits at the intersection of demographic change, democratic design, and digital making. The project explores how reclaimed industrial resources may inform inclusive design, sustainable and circular material cultures, and novel forms of architectural intervention.

Rooted in the lived realities of rural Germany, it investigates housing needs and everyday conditions of senior citizens in one of the country’s districts most distressed by depopulation and demographic change. Facilitated with @volkssolidaritaet_kv_msh, qualitative surveys, 3D scans of domestic spaces helped students to develop a grounded understanding of site-specific challenges before translating findings into design proposals.

In partnership with the @unbuildinggroup and our local industry partner @ante_gruppe, the project then draws on underused CLT offcuts from production — transforming waste streams into architectural opportunity. Moving between the fabrication of material probes and prototypes, participatory model-building, and spatial speculation, material research becomes architectural proposition.

Thanks to all partners for their generous collaboration. And above all to the residents, who prefer to remain unnamed, but without which this project would not have been possible.

Project Credits: Alexander Wiese, Annaena Sass, Jessica Matla, Marian Bötzl, Massoud Kamalimajd, Nohelia Camila Rosario Mantilla, Raphael Fritz, Stephanie Hornung, Lukas Eifrig, Maximilian Görner, Marta Senff (Students), Antje Simon, Volkssolidarität Mansfeld-Südharz (Partner) Anteholz (Industry Partner), Jannis May (Fabrication Tutor), Frank Bauer, Markus Lager (Direction)

#reclaimdesignbuild #circulardesign #digitalfabrication #experimentalbuilding by @speculativeengineering

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5 months ago

Das Design-Build-Seminar „Fabricated – transformativer Membranbau“ widmet sich der Entwicklung eines textilen Daches als Auditorium für die FH Erfurt, das die bestehende Holzkonstruktion um einen witterungsschützenden Raum erweitert. Durch gewebte Stoffe, Luftmembranen und Zugseile entsteht eine Wetterhaut, deren Form und Struktur aus dem Zusammenspiel von Geometrie, Material, Funktion und Umwelt hervorgehen. In Verbindung mit der Schwachholzunterkonstruktion wurde ein hybrides statisches System mit einem pneumatischen Hochpunkt entwickelt. Die Studierenden erlernten Grundlagen des textilen Entwerfens, Planens und Bauens – von Prototypen und Modellen bis zur 1:1-Umsetzung konstruktiver Details. Das Projekt zeigt das Potenzial textiler Strukturen auf: minimaler Materialeinsatz, hohe Flexibilität und die Fähigkeit, bestehende Architekturen ressourcenschonend weiterzudenken.

Lehrkonzept und Ausführung: POPTICUM (@lorenz_kuschnig_lefort , @maxie_schneider ) Wiss. Mitarbeit: Vivienne Gladitz, Turtorin: Henriette Hantel

Herstellung Membran und Pneu mit maßangefertigtem Druckhaltesystem: Lorenz Kuschnig Lefort und Maxie Schneider in Zusammenarbeit mit Simon Krautheim
Holzkonstruktion: Jonathan Heck (Lehrbeauftragter)

FH Erfurt, SPENI Institute, Fachbereich Architektur by @speculativeengineering

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a year ago

Some recent contributions to our growing model library from our current studios »Assemble« and »Hybrid Beech« at #SPENI. Like every semester, our students begin by building and analyzing existing constructions and approach them in detail and structure. Top the whole group and beyond, they may serve as enduring references to further explore and expand our conceptions of timber and mixed assemblies. Visitors are welcome to come and study this ongoing archive at SPENI, including manifold projects from @gustavdusing and @maxhacke, @shigeruban as well as @acmespace and @knippershelbig. Open to all students and interested public.

#modelmaking #hybridconstruction #sustainableconstruction #circularbuilding #timberresearch #timberconstruction #woodworking #fhearchitektur #fhe @fherfurt_architektur #SPENI

Project Credits: Lukas Eifrig, Tom Hallbauer, Philipp Hansen, Mathis Hirschlipp, Leonie Hobert, Sara Javadi, Celina Jung, Lea Köhler, Gloria Kratzmann, Merlin Liesch, Victoria Mann, Tom Netzker, Paul Reichmuth, Lukas Sauer, Annabell Selig, Arefeh Shokrollahi, Carlo Twiste, Maja Wegner, Alexander Wiese, Jonas Wolff, Anne Katrin Zitzmann, Muhammad Faiz Baihaki, Frieder Bruns, Marian Fleischhauer, Shima Gholivand Zardalou, Kirsten Groot, Danny Grundt, Elias Günther, Helena Kaufmann, Laura Koch, Gloria Kratzmann, Maximilian Kubicekm Jil Marie Kühn, Jannes Lieder, Silas Reinke, Jan Schäfer, Matilda Taeger, Martin Täubert (Students), Frank Bauer, Markus Lager (Direction)

Image Credits: SPENI

1 Studierendenhaus, Gustav Düsing & Max Hacke, Braunschweig, 2023
2/3 Museum Historische Oberamteistraße, wulf architekten & str.ucture, Reutlingen, 2025
4/5 Tamedia Office Building, Shigeru Ban Architects, Zurich, 2013
6 Eiermannbau, Egon Eiermann, Apolda 1939
7 Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Misericordia, Angelo Mangiarotti, Bruno Morassutti & Aldo Favini, Baranzate, Milan, 1958
8 Bahnschwellenhaus, Shin Takasuga, Miyake, 1980 by @speculativeengineering

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5 months ago

»Irregular Regular« by Lisa-Marie Henk is a thesis developed within the LogDesignBuild project »LaubHybrid« at #SPENI. »LaubHybrid« explores how underused deciduous wood resources may inform monomaterial as well as hybrid timber construction — not as residual biomass, but as a driver of sustainable material culture and architectural experimentation.

The project proposes a construction between an existing wall and a ramp, based on bespoke innovation in reciprocal framework. The self-supporting system balances tension and compression — each log resting on two others at its ends while supporting two at its center. To accommodate the irregular geometry of small-diameter trunks, an axis is defined between the centers of the cut surfaces. All connections are aligned along this axis, maintaining a consistent position and depth regardless of the natural form of the log.

The elements are joined through overlapping slanted surfaces. After drying, this geometry allows slight movement within the joints, preventing cross-grain tension and enhancing structural stability. Each joint is secured by a clamping element that ensures precision, safety, and long-term durability. Through close collaboration with our industry partner @carvetec aka @joschinger, custom fabrication protocol and fixtures were developed to hold each trunk in exactly the same position for milling operations from all sides. Acting as a negative mold of the first-side connection, this device ensures accurate alignment during the fabrication process.

The project is funded by CZS Forschungsstart and CZS Wissenschaftskommunikation by @carl_zeiss_stiftung

Image Credits: @lisa.mr3, @speculativeengineering

Project Credits: Lisa-Marie Henk (Student), Sascha Lummitsch, Nicole Zahner (Partners), Jürgen Henschel (Industry Partner), Robin Godwyll, Jannis May (Fabrication Tutors), Frank Bauer, Markus Lager (Direction)

#logdesignbuild #laubhybrid #hybridtimber #leafwood #woodinarchitecture #circulardesign #digitalfabrication #timberarchitecture #experimentalbuilding #wiehe #designresearch #fabrication #timberconstruction #manufacturing #woodworking #designbuild #fhearchitektur #SPENI by @speculativeengineering

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5 months ago