Strategies for Metallic Vault Structures Aluminium composite panels used as structural elements Pablo Baquero 1 , Effimia Giannopoulou 2 , Jaime Cavazos 3 1 UIC 2 Faberarium 3 Cavazos Engineers 1,2 www.faberarium.org 3 www.Cavazos.gr 1,2 {paniba|efeminno}@faberarium.org 3 jaime@cavazos.gr This article explains parametric, fabrication and teaching strategies used during a workshop for constructing a full scale, self supporting, vault metal structure realized with parametric manufacturing methods. The key aim is to construct a small size, easy assembled and transportable pavilion, while focusing on new design and construction methods of a façade system in which the structure, joint and skin will integrate functions in a unifying structural system. For the investigation, we explore materials commonly used in façade industry, such as aluminum profiles and aluminium composite panels (ACP). Keywords: Spring System Simulation, Catenary, Digital Fabrication and Construction, ACPs, Aluminium profiles INTRODUCTION In order to achieve a new kind of paradigm for archi- tectural practice, through the teaching inside work- shops, we are trying to establish a close relation with the manufacturing industry and take advantage of the new technological advances in the material sec- tor to demonstrate how parametric strategies and digital manufacturing techniques provide effective connection between design and production in real scale. This workshop research focus on discrete sur- face relaxation geometry (meshes), as a construction system, to explore the material usage of aluminum profiles and ACPs where the typical roles of cladding and support structure are reversed. The cladding panels are used as structural elements and the alu- minium profiles are used as a mesh that weaves the two elements together. The advantage of using com- putational tools is to examine the design potentials of emerging and dynamic phenomena through se- ries of algorithmic strategies for the form-finding op- timization, structural analysis and cutting patterns of a structure called Calycas (see figure 1). Figure 1 Calycas exhibited during Athens International Facade Conference, October, 2014. Contribution 279 (Preprint) - figure and table placement subject to change - eCAADe 33 | 1