Prof. Dr.-Ing. Daniel Lordick: Architectural Math for Bamboo Structures (AMBS)

Applicant: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Daniel Lordick, Faculty of Mathematics, Research Group Geometric Modeling and Visualization | School of Science
Period: 10.07.2023 – 22.07.2023
Participating partners (selection):

Assistant Professor Aly Abdelmagid and Dresden Fellow Dr. Ahmed Elshafei, from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'architecture de Paris Malaquais, Paris, France
SLUB, DZWK, SKD
TU: Prof. Dr. Christoph Neinhuis (Chair of Botany); Prof. Dr. Viktor Mechtcherine (Institute of Construction Materials); Prof. Dr. Carsten Timm (Chair of Theory of Condensed Matter)

What happens when you bring together a group of international students and scientists and task them with combining mathematical strategies with the sustainable building material bamboo? The impressive result is "La Fleur Mathématique", a 4.5-meter-high, 750-kilogram bamboo sculpture created as part of the international summer school „Architectural Math for Bamboo Structures (AMBS)“. The summer school was organized by Prof. Daniel Lordick and Dresden Fellow Dr. Ahmed Elshafei. Numerous partners from TU Dresden, SLUB, SKD, and DZWK, as well as experts on bamboo as a building material, contributed to its successful completion.

Summer School AMBS at the TU Dresden in July 2023 © Carsten Ress / Daniel Lordick

Students creating a large template for the sculpture

In the theoretical part of the two-week summer school, the participants first learned about mathematical methods for designing efficient load-bearing structures. More precisely, the first task was to learn how to bend straight bamboo into mathematical curves.Then, they tested these methods in workshops using digital tools and model-making techniques. During the practical part, they brought the theoretical concept to life by creating a bamboo sculpture. As part of the “Plant Fever” exhibition of the Kunstgewerbemuseum, the sculpture was on display for four months in the park of Pillnitz castle - a remarkable exception for a modern object in a historic park.

Students constructing the bamboo sculpture

The impressive and eye-catching presence of "La Fleur Mathématique" brought the working group and TU Dresden media attention in local media outlets and international research journals. It also strengthened international research cooperations. Following the summer school, reciprocal research visits with colleagues from the Paris-Malaquais School of Architecture (ENSAP) continued. A joint publication* was released, and the project was presented at international conferences (AAG in Stuttgart in 2023 and the IASS in Zurich in 2024).

"The focus on interesting colleagues in research must always be global in scope. Internationalization is an effective way to make relevant research positions in Dresden visible. It's a great opportunity to invite researchers to Dresden and exchange ideas with them in person." explains Prof. Dr.-Ing. Daniel Lordick.

The summer school, "Architectural Math for Bamboo Structures," is an excellent example of internationalization in action. It combines mathematics, design, and sustainability in an innovative way, resulting in a high-visibility and tangible output. Additionally, it fosters interdisciplinary cooperation across national borders.
The program combines two TU Dresden initiatives funded by the Excellence Strategy in an exemplary way. With the support of the funding program internationalization, it benefited from the expertise of Dr. Ahmed Elshafei, who was able to be on site as part of the Dresden Fellowship Program. This cross-program collaboration enabled scientific synergies and highlights the strategic value of networked excellence funding at TU Dresden.

Group picture in front of bamboo sculpture

Those curious about „La Fleur Mathématique“ can still view the sculpture in the Dresden Botanical Garden.

* Abdelmagid, A., Tošić, Z., Elshafei, A., Lordick, D., & Baverel, O. (2024)
Development of geometric methods for design of bamboo structures - La fleur mathematique ́- I. International Journal for Spacial Structures - IASS.

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Daniela Mohrich

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