A Parametric Timber Shell Brought to Life Through Digital Fabrication

In the heart of the Catalan Pyrenees, in the town of Alp, Spain, students and faculty from the MPDA (Master in Parametric Design in Architecture) program at UPC BarcelonaTech designed and built an innovative all-timber sports pavilion.

This project demonstrates how digital technologies can effectively connect architectural design, structural engineering, and fabrication. In just a few months, the team developed a lightweight segmented timber shell structure designed to create a new public space for the local community.

The Challenge

Design a lightweight timber structure capable of covering a public space while implementing advanced expertise in geometry, computational design, and digital fabrication to create low-impact structures.

The objective was to develop an expressive architectural design while maintaining a realistic and economically viable approach to fabrication and construction.

The Solution

Developed in just four months, the project combined computational design in Grasshopper, structural analysis with Karamba3D, and digital fabrication with cadwork to create a high-performance segmented timber shell.

The structure is based on planar polygonal modules forming an optimized ribbed system. Through an integrated approach combining parametric design, engineering, and digital fabrication, the connections were developed to maximize structural performance while simplifying production. The components were then manufactured using CNC machining, pre-assembled in the workshop, and transported to the site for fast and precise installation.

In just one week, the team transformed the digital model into reality. Foundations, assembly of the prefabricated structure, and installation of the membrane were completed on site as part of a unique collaborative construction process.

More than just a pavilion, MURGULA demonstrates how a seamless digital workflow, from modeling to construction, can bring ambitious, sustainable, and fully buildable timber projects to life.