This is the keynote lecture following the MArch Jury for the Design Research Laboratory (DRL) Taught Postgraduate Programme.
The construction sector is responsible for over 35% of the EU’s total waste generation, ± 50% of all extracted resources and 5-12% of total GHG (Green House Gas) emissions. This lecture will present how the AUAS Robot Lab is exploring how to decrease these numbers by developing innovative solutions for upcycling wood, with digitally guided, highly automated, wood waste intake, circular wood design and robotic processing, which enable the reuse of construction waste for multiple end-uses. The lecture introduces various projects (done with wood industry, technical companies, housing corporations, municipalities and other partners), applying digital design and robotic production technology to enhance wood circularity and make a positive impact in society.
Marta Malé-Alemany is a Doctor of Architecture and Associate Professor in Digital Production at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS), where she founded the AUAS Robot Lab and heads the Digital Production Research Group (DPRG). Her research aims to tackle societal challenges like material resource shortages, exploring how digital production can help make a significant positive impact. At the Robot Lab, Marta and her multi-disciplinary team are advancing sustainable design and production, by integrating industry 4.0 technologies to propel the circular transition. Current projects focus on innovative wood reclamation, through design from availability and smart (robotic) manufacturing methodologies for non-standard, residual wood streams. With over 25 years of experience in academia and practice across the USA and Europe, Marta is a strong advocate for integrating education, research, and practice to drive innovation. This position enables her to build multi-sector alliances and strategic partnerships to tackle complex problems, leading R&D projects that balance experimentation and pragmatic solutions for real-world impact.
