Climate-responsive robotic brickwork for monolithic building envelopes

Abstract This research aims to reconcile geometric complexity and environmental performance in robotic bricklaying by proposing an integrated design-to-fabrication methodology for site-specific, monolithic building envelopes. As a sustainable alternative to contemporary multi-layered composites, this approach utilizes a uniform brick format that is geometrically and materially differentiated, facilitating a zoning strategy that organizes insulating and weather-resistant bricks into a cohesive structural element. The methodology relies on a hierarchical graph-based model that streamlines the workflow from an (1) abstract spatial cell network, defining room topologies and their enclosing wall and slab elements, to a (2) detailed brick assembly graph of selected elements, integrating attributes such as bond type, corners, and wall connections. The exterior facade morphology is driven by solar radiation simulations, where algorithmic design generates self-shading patterns through the precise movement of individual bricks reducing surface temperature. The proposed methodology was experimentally validated through the fabrication of a full-scale demonstrator of a monolithic building section in Munich, Germany, realized by a collaborative workflow between a mobile robotic system and skilled craftspeople. This research demonstrates that robotic fabrication can effectively reconcile construction constraints with climate-aware design, enabling the realization of resource-efficient, functionally zoned, and architecturally distinct masonry envelopes. Ultimately, this research establishes the efficacy of the graph-based model as a comprehensive digital framework for construction automation. By encapsulating construction logic and topological dependencies within a unified data structure, the framework effectively reconciles abstract architectural planning with discrete robotic control, facilitating a seamless digital chain from early-stage design to on-site assembly.