Joining Cards

The aim of the "Joining Cards" project, which is being implemented by the IAT, is to research into the joining of paper materials. The research is conducted with regards to and based on the development of structural interior systems.

With reference to current building practice, the heterogeneous use of materials and the current joining methods in the field of non-load-bearing interior construction led to costly construction processes and are a waste of resources. In context of this problem, cardboard products and paper materials offer a building material that consists of renewable or recycled fibers and can be reprocessed and reproduced at low cost.

Although the suitability of this material for construction was demonstrated many years ago by the Japanese architect Shigeru Ban in mock-up buildings as well as in international research projects, it has so far been implemented mainly in temporary structures. These structures have a life span of only a few weeks up to a few years and have a less important value in terms of applications.

With regards to a broad application of cardboard as well as paper materials in interior finishing, this project proposes interior finishing systems that are close to building practice as well as accessible to the end user. The research gap that the present investigation addresses in this aspect is the way and the resulting methodology of joining cardboard components and the constructive formation of interfaces in the interior finishing system, as well as to adjacent components.

The aim of the project is to gain comprehensive knowledge of the joining of cardboard components, to develop concepts for standardized and detachable interior systems (joining technology, design, construction processes). To build test models, and also to obtain declarations of intent from potential partners for cooperation in the context of further projects. The ultimate goal is the widespread use of cardboard products and paper materials in interior construction and thus a significant reduction in the waste of resources in the building industry.