Tensile + Veneer

Tensile Veneer explores wood's often-overlooked capacity to withstand torsion and shearing forces through strategic lamination and connection systems. While wood typically lacks high flexibility, this project demonstrates that thin veneer laminates can be assembled into tensile structures when properly configured. Inspired by Bum Suk Ko's Wood Laminate Morphology research at ICD Stuttgart and the Wave Canopy project, the system uses bolt-and-nut connections with force distribution rings to create flexible yet strong assemblies.
The key innovation lies in understanding how bending angle affects material behavior: testing revealed that 20-degree bending angles optimize curvature formation while maintaining structural integrity