Modular Bandshell

Prototyping Baltic Birch Plywood

A bandshell that had to ship flat, assemble fast, and stand on its own with no visible hardware. We generated every rib from a parametric model and CNC-cut them to lock together by hand.

Overview

Parametrically designed rib-and-spine structure, CNC-routed from Baltic birch plywood in our San Francisco, California workshop. Each rib is unique, generated from a parametric model, and the assembled structure demonstrates how computational design can produce complex organic forms from flat sheet material.

Fabrication Process

The frame was modeled parametrically, nested for sheet cutting, and CNC-routed as a set of unique ribs and spine components. Interlocking joints allow fast dry assembly without visible hardware.

Materials

  • Baltic birch plywood
  • Interlocking rib components
  • CNC-routed slots and joinery
  • parametric model