WoodCycle: Augmented Reality (AR) and Algorithmic Design for Sustainable Structure Construction with Reclaimed Wood.

This paper presents "WoodCycle," a research project that develops an integrated digital workflow for designing and constructing sustainable structures using reclaimed wood. Addressing the challenges of material irregularity and the gap between digital precision and physical tolerances, the research proposes a methodology combining 3D scanning, algorithmic design, and Augmented Reality (AR). Reclaimed wood components were digitised via 3D scanning photogrammetry to create a digital twin database. A generative aggregation algorithm in Grasshopper utilised this data to define assembly logic, which was then deployed through for interactive, 1:1 scale design and on-site assembly guidance. This workshop with architecture students validated the workflow, demonstrating that AR effectively bridges digital design and physical construction, enabling intuitive handling of non-standard materials. The project concludes that this human-machine collaborative framework facilitates the creative reuse of reclaimed wood, reconciling digital ambitions with material realities, and offers a viable model for integrating advanced digital fabrication research into architectural education and practice.