With its curving, honeycomb form the "Future Tree" in the courtyard of the new Basler Hofmann extension building in Esslingen (CH) is clearly attracting considerable attention. Is this due to its hovering appearance, to the ephemeral construction or possibly to the ornamental concrete column? Or maybe to its synthesis of different materials and forms of construction? The remarkable thing about the "Future Tree" canopy by Gramazio Kohler Research from the ETH Zurich is, first of all, the digital planning and building process on which it is based. The tree-like construction - a wooden reciprocal frame - was designed and implemented completely parametrically, i.e. the structure was generated in a computer-based design process and optimised to meet technical and structural demands. Alongside the dimensioning of the "Future Tree" the mesh, the size of the joints and the curvature of the timber crown could be specifically adapted. An algorithm for the collision-free placing of the 30 cm-long connecting screws was even integrated in the digital model.
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