MACU 2014 (Mobile automated contemporary Unit)

MACU is part of the “welcome to africa” project 2012- 2015 at DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) which is an international academic research project between the Ethiopian, South Sudanese and German universities. This research program's aim is to strengthen the collaboration in research and practical experiences and competency to bring together contemporary building technology with real circumstances.
Credits: Heng Sen Lumber Manufacture PLC Addis Ababa Ethiopia, CNC workshop by Thomas Haile Addis Ababa Ethiopia,
AEE Dawit Kebede Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Architects and implementation: Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, institute of experimental architecture (ifex) in collaboration with EiABC, Addis Ababa University
Project head: Prof.Dr.Ing. Dirk Donath
Team: Assit. Prof. Asgedom Haile, Mischa Proll, Peter Dissel, Carsten Stammeier, Florian Geddert, Brook Teklahaimanot, Jakob Mettler, Nicole Baron, Olaf Kammler, Aknaw Yohannes, Dagmawi Tilahun
Film & Animation: Olaf Kammler, Lukas Veltruský
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Year of construction: 2014
Construction time: 1 day
Area: 36.00 m²
Budget: 10,000 USD
Software used: Rhino, Grasshopper, self-developed C#.net Add-on, Control Artcam
Number of individual parts: 834 parts without wedges & connectors
Material: Eucalyptus plywood / 18 mm / 1.20m x 2.40 m,
CNC Parameter: 3-axis milling machinery made in China, 10mm drilling bit, Operation speed @ 7000 rpm for two blades, total cutting length 3,100 m, total cutting time 28.0 h