Otto Lindstam

Abstract

Flax fibre-polymer composites (FFPC) present significant potential for sustainable construction, yet adoption remains limited despite advantages in renewability, regional availability, and favourable mechanical properties. This paper examines knowledge dissemination mechanisms through three FFPC-timber hybrid projects of increasing scale: an indoor exhibition installation, a temporary outdoor pavilion, and a permanent structure employing FFPC as primary load-bearing elements. Through material morphology theory and stakeholder integration analysis, the research demonstrates how bidirectional knowledge transfer expands the collective design morphospace. Each project introduced distinct parameters at different stakeholder interfaces: design workshops tested the feasibility of established computational tools for general designers, a collaborative framework development unlocked experimental morphologies, and academia-industry integration translated coreless filament winding methodologies from robotic platforms to conventional industrial machinery. The realisation—validated through full-scale structural testing and long-term monitoring—demonstrates technological readiness while establishing reciprocal opportunities: diversified portfolios for fibre producers, broadened construction market access for composite manufacturers, and regulatory framework influence. These complementary dissemination pathways collectively advance FFPC timber hybrids from research prototypes toward established architectural practice, shaping the trajectory of bio-based materials in construction.