Bridging traditional woodcraft and algorithmic design: A computational approach to the Kundekari technique

Abstract

This article examines the digital reconstruction of kundekari, a traditional woodworking craft characterised by geometric patterning and interlocking wooden elements. The study reinterprets the craft’s design and fabrication processes using contemporary tools such as AutoCAD and Rhino–Grasshopper, supported by workshop observations and geometric analyses carried out with practising artisans. Through this combined approach, the research proposes a systematic method for reproducing kundekari in a digital environment. The study reframes an embodied, practice-based tradition—transmitted through intergenerational learning—as a form of local knowledge adaptable to contemporary design workflows. By translating tacit craft knowledge into computational processes, the research highlights how digital tools can help preserve endangered crafts. The developed algorithm generates geometrically accurate digital models and supports the creation of new variations derived from traditional logic.