»FUNDAMENTAL EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH FROM FIBER TO BUILDING«

Research Work

The focus is always on the experimental exploration of the topic of building with paper in the field of architecture and design. It is a search for possible applications and the question of which geometric and functional parts and pieces with which haptic properties of a building component are needed and could be needed to implement them in architecture. In addition, there is the question of the possibility of inventing these new materials or optimizing existing ones. In all this, experimental research on models and abstraction methods offers the possibility to work in trial and error to arrive at application approaches in a different way. And finally, in this way, images are created that are the basis for communicating ideas and changing the image of paper and cardboard, and for enlivening the thinking process.

The focus is on the exploration of the material, starting from industrial products and partially refined raw materials, as well as its further craft processing into building products for practical use. Through these tests on the material, issues for the process of material optimization are defined. The findings from the process provide new ideas and are to be incorporated and verified in realistic models. The research and development of models takes place in experimental setups and studies. The theoretical and haptic examination of the material represents a multiple development loop, an iterative design process in the sense of architectural design.

University Teaching

At the Department of Plastic Design, Faculty of Architecture at the TU Darmstadt under the leadership of Prof. Ariel Auslender the research focus building with paper was carried over into teaching and further expanded with students. In several seminars for students, the examination of the material was integrated into the university teaching and ideas and concepts for structures/architectures made of paper were developed in collaboration with students.

• Paper Shingles, 2023, student seminar on the production of moulded shingles made of fibre material with focus on the entire manufacturing process, FGPG, Nina Christl, Jannis Protzmann.
• Paper Plus, 2022 – 2023, student seminar on the experimental construction with paper in combination with another material, FGPG, Nina Christl, Fabian Luttropp, Jannis Protzmann.
• 1 to 1 seminar, 2017 – 2019, student seminar with the focus on realizing models made of paper and cardboard in 1:1 application scale, FGPG, Fabian Luttropp, Marco Volkmann
•  Impromptu: Paper Chair Workshop, 2019, student one day workshop on the design of a paper chair, FGPG, Marco Volkmann
• Paper Workshop, 2019, workshop at the faculty of architecture of the ETH Zurich, FGPG, Fabian Luttropp, Marco Volkmann
• 1 to 1 seminar, 2017 – 2019, student seminar with the focus on realizing models made of paper and cardboard in 1:1 application scale, FGPG, Fabian Luttropp, Marco Volkmann

Projects / Events

• Project UNITY, 2023, Modular Houses for the reconstruction of Ukraine in cooperation with the BDB – Bund Deutscher Baumeister (Association of German Builders) and the Ukrainian architectural firm Balbek Bureau.
• Building with Paper Exhibition, 2023, at the Centre for Building Culture Rheinland-Pfalz in Mainz.
• Best Practice Award for the BWP Project, 2023, 5th MINT Challenge – Competent for Sustainable Development, best practice award for university projects teaching sustainable developments in MINT studies.
  »club-mint.org«
• Building with Paper Exhibition, 2022, at the Paper Museum in Düren. » papiermuseum-dueren.de «
• BAMP! – Building with Paper Exhibition, 2021, on the Architecture Biennale in Venice in the exhibition „Time Space Existence“ in Palazzo Mora of the „ECC – European Culture Center“. »ecc-italy.eu/exhibitions/2021«
• BAMP! Building with Paper, 2017-2021(2022), interdisciplinary research projects within the framework of LOEWE funding from the State of Hesse, priority research
  »tu-darmstadt.de/bauenmitpapier«
• Instant Homes, 2014/2015, interdisciplinary research project funded by FiF Forum for Interdisciplinary Research at TU Darmstadt, development of emergency shelters made of paper as application-oriented research

Lectures

• Lecture and panel discussion – „Explore the Paper – Change the Image“, Network Days, Biennale Lucca, 2022, FGPG, Fabian Luttropp
• Lecture – „Exhibiting Research – A journey to Venice“, Museumsdialog at the Paper Museum Düren, 2022, FGPG, Nina Christl
• Lecture – „Sustainable Fire Protection for Paper“, Museumsdialog at the Paper Museum Düren, 2022, FGPG, Jannis Protzmann
• Lecture  – „Paper Exhibition – A Journey to Venice“, BAMP! Conference, TU Darmstadt, 2021, FGPG, Nina Christl
• Lecture and panel discussion – „Explore the Paper – Change the Image“, Conference „Shaping the City“at the „Time Space Existance“ 2021 international architectrue exhibition at the European Cultural Centre in Palazzo Mora, Venice, 2021, FGPG, Fabian Luttropp
• Lecture series on innovative building – Lecture on Building with paper!, Arup Company 2019, Berlin, Fabian Luttropp
• Guest lecture Genoa, Faculty of Architecture, Prof. Christiano Lepratti, 2018, FGPG, Prof. Ariel Auslender, Fabian Luttropp
• Radio contribution for Hessischer Rundfunk – Building with paper!, 2018, TU Darmstadt, Fabian Luttropp, Marco Volkmann
• Exhibition stand and lectures – Hessentag – Building with paper!, 2018, Korbach, Fabian Luttropp
• TV contribution – Hessenschau. Hessentag – Building with paper!, 2018, Korbach, Fabian Luttropp
• Lecture – Interdisciplinarity – FiF Workshop, 2018, TU Darmstadt, FGPG. Prof. Ariel Auslender
• Exhibition stand and flyer – Forum 10 years FiF, 2018, Darmstadt, FGPG, Fabian Luttropp
• Panel discussion – Festakt 10 Jahre LOEWE. 2018, Frankfurt, FGPG, Fabian Luttropp
• Presentation and guided tours – for the public on the topic of BAMP! project, „Hellwach – Der Wissenschaftstag“ at TU Darmstadt, 2018, Fabian Luttropp
• Lecture – Building with paper, a perspective, 2017, FH Wismar, FGPG, Fabian Luttropp