Robotically fabricated pavilion by University of Stuttgart students is based on sea-urchin shells

Researchers and students from the University of Stuttgart employed robots to mould and stitch together this laminated plywood pavilion, which is based on the anatomy of a sea urchin

Made up of stitched plywood elements, the arched structure is the latest in an annual pavilion series produced under the leadership of Achim Menges , who heads up the school's Institute for Computational Design (ICD), and Jan Knippers from the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE).

The pavilions are all intended to show the potential of computational design, simulation and fabrication processes in architecture. This year's edition has a segmented shell made up of hollow, moulded beech plywood components that are laminated and held together by industrial stitching – processes that have all been carried out by a robot.

"The pavilion is the first of its kind to employ industrial sewing of wood elements on an architectural scale," said the team.