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Institute for Computational Design
In a recent interview with , our research associate Rebeca Duque Estrada () discusses her work on flax fibers and material-driven architecture as part of the ICD Fiber Team. The conversation addresses a central question in contemporary construction: how can bio-based materials evolve from secondary applications into high-performance structural systems that meaningfully reduce the construction sector’s carbon footprint? Through computational design, structural simulation, and robotic fabrication, the work embeds material behavior directly into the design process to develop structurally efficient systems that reduce material use while advancing a new material tectonics in architecture.
Drawing on projects such as Maison Fibre, the Hybrid Flax Pavilion, and the ITECH Research Pavilion 2024, the interview demonstrates how natural fibers like flax can be integrated into scalable building systems that combine structural performance with resource efficiency and renewable material strategies. Rebeca also discusses the transition from synthetic to natural fibers and the technical and cultural shifts required to work with variable bio-based materials in highly controlled digital fabrication environments.
Her ongoing doctoral research focuses on developing a computational framework for fibrous architecture that integrates design tools with life cycle assessment data from the earliest design stages. By embedding environmental performance directly into the design logic and further investigating timber-fiber hybrid systems, the work aims to expand the role of bio-based materials in ecologically informed construction.
Special thanks to Klára Jirková and the Material Time team for the invitation.
Read the full interview on Material Times: https://www.materialtimes.com/articles/when-fibers-become-structure-rebeca-duque-estrada-on-flax-and-material-driven-architecture
© Image credits: Material Times
19/01/2026
Multiple open doctoral positions at ICD/CA
The department for Computing in Architecture at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD/CA) is directed by Thomas Wortmann and researches and teaches at the intersection of architecture, engineering, and computer science, with a focus on artificial intelligence methods. Much of our research is tied to the Cluster of Excellence “Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture (IntCDC), which is a leading research center in the field of computational architecture, engineering and construction.
ICD/CA is looking for doctoral researchers (TV-L E13) for IntCDC’s next round of research projects, as well as for projects from the new Central Innovation Program for SMEs “AI for Building Design”, in the following research areas:
AI-based Generation of Building Designs
AI for Building Construction Detailing
Digital twins and AI for On-Site Human-Robot and Robot-Robot-Collaboration
Material-informed Design for Regrowing Building Materials and Reused Building Components
Please view the full job offer on our website.
The expected start date for all positions is as soon as possible but can be arranged to meet individual requirements.
The initial application deadline is January 31, 2026.
Come join a growing team of excellent researchers and help us to push our research on AI for AEC to the next level!
15/01/2026
Atrium ‚Stammhaus‘ Blumer Lehmann nominated for Detail Readers’ Award!
Curved forms have long offered a way to achieve structural stability through geometry rather than material intensity. In Blumer Lehmann’s new atrium, this principle is reinterpreted through curved cross-laminated timber, forming wide, curved surfaces unusual in timber construction and giving the wood an almost textile quality. The tactile, visual, and structural properties of the curved CLT allow multiple functions to be integrated into a single material system: the elements support cantilevered slabs, form the sides of the staircase, act as balustrades and smoke baffles, and subtly guide movement through the space. The key challenge lay in detailing—maintaining the clarity of the free-form geometry while ensuring precise and functional connections to the building’s linear architecture.
Please support us and vote for the DETAIL Readers’ Award through the following link:
https://detailconstructionaward-2025.alpha-awards.com/landing/showcase
Voting is open from January 15th to 20th - Thank you for your support!
© Image Credits: ICD University of Stuttgart (Photo 1: Christoph Zechmeister, Photo 2: Roland Halbe)
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