Tree-Inspired Joinery Design

"This part of the tree—where the branches connect to the trunk—is the strongest part of a tree. By analyzing the patterns and geometry of this junction, I developed a series of joinery designs inspired by its underlying logic. Some joints draw from traditional woodworking techniques, making them suitable for fabrication with standard machinery. Others emulate the natural efficiency of the branch-trunk connection, enabling secure assembly through a simple twisting motion. y.





Tree-Inspired Cantilever Structure Design
Can the natural logic observed in trees—specifically their ability to self-adjust and form cantilevered structures—be translated into design? To explore this question, I developed a series of chairs that embody and test this structural principle. Each chair was refined through an iterative design process, directly informed by careful observation of arboreal forms.

My investigation began with a study of the inherent intelligence in natural structures. Referencing PART 2 of Tree Story, which explains how branches function as cantilevered elements connected to the trunk, I examined wood sections and analytical diagrams. I then constructed physical models using veneer to reconstruct segments cut from real trees, enabling a closer examination of how nature forms strong, efficient joints.

This hands-on process revealed that tree structures evolve through continuous, flowing patterns that both distribute loads and adapt to growth. Curvature and continuity emerged as essential principles—guiding elements in the development of structurally expressive and materially efficient designs.

















Fabricataion
The chair required wood with a diameter of over 17 inches and a thickness of a quarter inch, which presented some challenges in both material selection and handling. With limited access to machinery, I had to rely on improvised solutions—building a steam-bending setup and a soaking pool by hand. I also reached out to others for help, learning how to coordinate and work together to bend the wood. To shape it, I designed a simple but effective jig and gradually developed a soaking and bending process suited to the material. The fabrication journey involved careful sanding, ongoing adjustments, and a deepening attention to detail. I learned—again and again—that failure is part of the process. Each setback was a chance to adapt and grow. The greatest lesson was simple but lasting: keep trying, and don’t give up.




4/19/2025 - 5/11/2025: Preparation Work


4/19/2025Rhode Island Sawmill, RI
I purchased green white ash wood.The logs had a diameter of over 17 inches and were custom-cut into 1/4-inch thick slabs to suit my fabrication needs.



4/20/2025
 A 10-foot piece of wood seemed massive at first, me and my dear classmate managed to transport it back. Despite its size, the quarter-inch thickness made it light and easy to carry.




5/11/2025:
 



5/14 – 5/22: Eight Days to Make a Chair !

The fabrication process turned out to be far more difficult. Almost everything went wrong at the start. My jig was too weak, the wood I prepared was too large to fit into the steam-bending box at the woodshop, and even the soaking pool there was too small. I’m limited by machinary. In an attempt, I tried soaking the wood in a nearby river—but that didn’t work either. The water failed to soak the wood evenly, and at one point, I had nothing usable and only eight days left.

Under pressure, I began rebuilding almost everything. I custom-made a steam-bending bag, redesigned and reinforced the jigs, and kept adjusting my setup as new problems continued to arise.

Another major challenge was coordination. Green white ash is strong and dense—ideal for structural use, but extremely difficult to bend. Each piece required at least four people working in tight synchronization, and the process had to be fast: we had only three to five minutes after steaming to shape the wood before it hardened.

It wasn’t until May 16th that things finally began to go right. With just six days remaining—and thanks to the support and collaboration of others—I was able to complete the final piece on time. The cantilevered structure of the chair turned out beautifully: visually delicate, yet very stable and strong to hold the weight of a person with ease.






14 - 4 = 1010 pieces are enough for my cantilever chair to support a person sitting on it. Compared to the original design, I reduced 4 pieces to explore the minimal wood structure required to hold a person.



Instructors:  
Johanna Barthmaier-Payne
Tom Weis
Wolfgang Rudorf
Ann Kearsley
Read More:Hu, Jia, "Tree Story" (2025). Masters Theses. 1444.
 https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/1444/





































































































































































































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