UNIVERSAL CONNECTION
Universal Connection three-way joint hardware, cast bronze
In 1941, Konrad Waschmann and Walter Gropius collaborated on the design of a prefabricated timber panelling system that could meet the high demand for housing they anticipated following the Second World War. The design of the panels stemmed out of an elaborate three- way joint, the "Universal Connection,” which could be used to connect every surface of the house. In our absurdly couture fabrication and analysis of this failed industrial housing product, the faults and limitations of this design (and prefabrication in general) became apparent. Though the intersection and its hardware may be clean, beautiful, and easy to control, the panels they connect are almost certainly less so. As long as trees aren’t grown in a factory, the most effective universal connection may still be a nail.
Exploded axonometric of hardware
Plan of connection and three panels
Exhibition view