lead designer Sawako Kaijima
funded by SUTD-MIT International Design Centre, SUTD Digital Manufacturing and design centre.
An exploration of interlocking systems in structure and craft.
Evolving Joinery is a research pavilion led by designer Sawako Kaijima (SUTD), funded by the SUTD-MIT International Design Centre and the SUTD Digital Manufacturing and Design Centre. The installation reimagines traditional timber joinery through contemporary means — combining laser-cut acrylic elements with 3D-printed, interlocking nodes.
Passage Projects was responsible for the structural engineering, ensuring the integrity of the system across its modular assembly. Despite its lightweight components, the structure required careful analysis of connections, tolerances, and load paths to ensure performance under real-world conditions.
The project sits at the intersection of digital fabrication, design research, and material experimentation — a lightweight structure with deeply rooted ideas.
