UNFOLD KRAFT
Schematic diagrams representing WAAM, FEM, material reuse, and fatigue design

Unfolding strength — from research to structure

Unfold Kraft is a specialist consultancy in fatigue design, structural stability, and additive manufacturing (WAAM), grounded in doctoral research at ETH Zürich and affiliated work at Empa. This is backed by hands-on material testing and characterization across concrete, masonry, steel, and glass, and by field experience with reclaimed materials and renovation construction in the United States. Unfold Kraft partners with engineering and architecture firms as a technical sub-consultant on fatigue-critical and research-driven structural design — providing specialist analysis and conceptual input alongside the firm of record.

Lionel G.S.
LIONEL G.S.
Founder, Unfold Kraft

I'm a structural engineer based in Zürich, currently pursuing a doctorate at ETH and working with Empa on fatigue and additive manufacturing. Before that, I cut my teeth on renovation sites in the US — which is probably why I still like getting my hands on the material, not just the model. Happy to talk through a project, however early-stage.

01 // SELECTED PROJECTS

Bridge Design Concept

STEEL + UHPC | 40M SPAN | ZÜRICH

Computational optimization of a composite superstructure. Focused on integral abutments to eliminate mechanical bearings and reduce embodied carbon through material efficiency.

Bridge Rendering
Structural Detail
Cross Section

Campus Resilience Building

CLT | FLOOD RESILIENCE | EMBODIED CARBON

Schematic design for a campus academic building addition and renovation, addressing 500-year flood resilience through an elevated pile foundation and bathtub-style basement, an 85% embodied carbon reduction versus an equivalent concrete structure via a carbon-negative CLT superstructure, and an integrated energy strategy combining roof PV, skylights, and efficient glazing.

Campus Energy Analysis Render
Structural Section
Flood Resilience Structural Strategy
Programmatic Distribution and Flood Lines
Embodied Environmental Impact

Barton Storage Renovation

STRUCTURAL TIMBER | WIND LATERAL SYSTEM

Design and execution oversight of a lateral bracing system for a heavy-timber storage facility. Utilized reversible connections to align with circular construction principles.

Barton Renovation Completed
Barton Before Renovation
Barton Under Construction

Kunsthalle Zürich — AAA

REUSED TIMBER | CNC FABRICATION

Structural validation and robotic fabrication of a temporary stage. The project focused on the logistics and technical assessment of 100% salvaged timber components.

AAA Stage Structure
AAA Fabrication 1
AAA Fabrication 2

Furniture & Objects

STEEL TUBING | MINIMALIST JOINERY

A series of structural objects including the Cello Stand and DWWLA Lamp, exploring the intersection of structural stability and industrial aesthetics.

Stand Series
Cello Stand
Cello Stand with Cello
DWWLA Lamp
DWWLA Lamp Detail

Salvaged Utility Unit

STEEL | RECLAIMED HARDWARE

A welded steel object built from a reclaimed ammunition can and salvaged plumbing fittings, exploring functional assembly from mismatched reclaimed hardware.

Carbon Creature 1
Carbon Creature 2

02 // EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

2026—PRES
Doctoral Candidate — ETH Zürich. Chair of Steel and Composite Structures.
2023—2026
MSc ETH in Civil Engineering — ETH Zürich. Specialization in Structural Engineering and Material Science.
2019—2023
Bachelor of Engineering | Civil Engineering — The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.

EXPERIENCE

2026—PRES
Affiliated Researcher — Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology. Fatigue behavior and structural application of wire arc additively manufactured (WAAM) components.
UNITED STATES
Renovation & Field Construction Experience — Hands-on construction and renovation work in the United States, including sourcing and structural assessment of reclaimed and salvaged materials. Add specific employer / project dates here

03 // CONSULTING AREAS

WAAM / Additive Structural Design

Feasibility studies, connection design, and process-aware detailing for wire arc additively manufactured structural components.

Structural Stability

Buckling, second-order, and system-level stability analysis for slender or unconventional structural geometries.

Reuse & Circular Engineering

Technical assessment and risk-based validation for the structural reuse of salvaged steel, timber, and masonry components.

Fatigue Design & Assessment

Fatigue-safe design and assessment for welded, additively manufactured, and cyclically loaded structures.

Materials Testing & Characterization — Hands-on testing and characterization across concrete, masonry, steel, and glass, providing the empirical basis for fatigue assessment, reuse feasibility, and novel-material structural design.

For scopes outside this focus, Unfold Kraft can help direct clients to the right specialist or firm.