CASULA: A design-build experiment (Extension Course)
Authors: Ana Rolim and Vinícius Lemos 
Catholic University of Pernambuco (UNICAP), Brazil
Built with Grant of USD 1,100 by Fundação Antônio dos Santos Abranches (FASA)

Casula is a low-budget architectural prototype created for temporary use on a campus, designed by a professor and a final-year student, and built in three days by 12 undergraduate architecture students with the assistance of two carpenters. It employs non-Euclidean geometry derived from a deformed cubic form using modeling and coding software, following the parallel stacking sectioning technique.

 

This project exemplifies architectural experimentation in the digital age, where 1:1 scale experiments blur the lines between design, fabrication, and final product. The structure, resembling a loft, utilizes locally sourced OSB plywood stacked horizontally and supported by pine timber beams to create curvy shapes, providing seating areas for individuals or groups.

 

Due to limited funding, digital design was combined with analog construction methods. The use of computational tools allowed for adaptation to real-world constraints, enhancing the students' understanding of rational systemic design. This experience highlights the integration of digital resources in contemporary architectural practice.