Where design meets construction: a review of bending active structures

This paper overviews the design-to-construction interfaces in bending-active structures, which still show considerable gaps and discontinuities between the increasingly precise computational-based design stages and the often artisanal/empiric manufacturing and construction stages. Such discrepancies can either introduce redundant structural elements or develop highly resource-intensive construction methods. The first part of the paper reviews a selection of historical and recent built structures through multi-criteria matrixes that analyse the relationship between structural typologies, generative approaches, construction methods, life-span, and material systems. Drawing from these considerations, the paper then focuses on the interfaces between design simulations and construction, emphasising on the monitoring/controlling of the bending process. Conclusively, a small-scale experimental application opens speculations upon the future of bending-active structures, augmented reality, and interactive prototyping/manufacturing.