Parametric Spiral Staircase: Pushing the Boundaries of Timber Engineering
At Ergodomus, we’re always eager to explore new technologies to enhance our workflows and bring innovation to timber engineering. One of our most exciting R&D ventures involved creating a parametric spiral staircase entirely made of CLT modules, showcasing the potential of algorithmic design.
Using Rhinoceros and Grasshopper, we developed custom algorithms to design and analyze various configurations. What made this project groundbreaking was the seamless integration between Rhino, Grasshopper, and our FEM software, Dlubal RFEM. This pioneering connection allowed us to exchange data bidirectionally, enabling rapid iteration and optimization. We explored and compared dozens of design options, ultimately delivering a solution that was both structurally sound and cost-effective.
This advanced workflow didn’t just help in sizing the staircase but also in precisely engineering the connections, such as the placement and number of pins, which are critical for stability. This project exemplifies our commitment to value engineering and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in timber construction.
