ABSTRACT
The design, development and construction of a reciprocal timber structure is presented. The design follows Friedrich Zollinger's lamella roof of the 1920s. However, by using digital fabrication and high-quality plywood, a new nodal connection is presented. The connection uses a single mechanical fixing yet provides a highly rigid joint that can be easily assembled and dis-assembled. The system was used in the design and fabrication of a temporary roof as part of the London Design Fair in 2016. It was located on the roof terrace of the Truman Brewery in London, which posed several challenging constraints. All parts were fabricated in the workshops of the University of Edinburgh and the roof was installed in one day by a team from the university. The system has been shown to be robust and flexible in application.
