Saviola Pavilion

Maestro Technologies served as the General Contractor and Project Manager for “The Wood Without The Tree,” an installation for Gruppo Saviola at Milan Design Week 2024. Designed by CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati and the late Italo Rota, the project demonstrates how advanced manufacturing can elevate sustainable materials, showcasing the potential of fully recycled wood in high-precision construction.

The project marked a pioneering deployment of the Maestro Platform, a proprietary digital construction tool that translates complex architectural designs into precise machine instructions. For this installation, Maestro converted the organic, artichoke-inspired geometry into a comprehensive digital twin. This allowed for the fabrication of 104 individual “petals” and structural components that fit together like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle, inspired by the precision of traditional Japanese joinery.

To ensure seamless assembly and construction management, Maestro applied a unique QR-code system to every component. These codes linked each physical part to its digital twin, providing the assembly team with instant access to geometric specifications and installation guidance via the Maestro Platform. This “phygital” workflow optimized construction efficiency, minimized errors, and allowed for rapid on-site assembly without heavy machinery.

The structure was built using Gruppo Saviola’s Pannello Ecologico®—made entirely from post-consumer recycled wood. By utilizing the Maestro Method, the installation was designed not just for a single use, but for a lifecycle of disassembly and reuse. The high-precision interlocking connections allow the structure to be dismantled and reassembled in new locations, extending the material’s life cycle. In total, the panels used equate to saving 89 trees, proving that digital fabrication is a key enabler of the circular economy.