A sub-species of sea urchin has inspired a group of German architects, designers, engineers and biologists to develop an intricate robotically-produced pavilion.

The Sand Dollar’s two-layered shell is formed of extremely thin fibres and stretching plates, connected in such a way that the integrity of the shell remains strong even as the urchin grows.

This realisation prompted researchers Achim Menges and Jan Knippers to explore how robotic biomimicry could be used to take ultra-thin plywood strips, just 3-5mm thick, and build a structurally stable shell-shaped pavilion.

Their organisations, the Institute for Computational Design and the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) at Stuttgart University, partnered with biologists and paleontologists from the University of Tubingen. Together, they developed software allowing robots to prefabricate a pavilion following the same natural principles.

The completed structure – stitched together in two layers by robots using an industrial sewing machine – features 151 laminated segments, weighs 780kg (1,720lbs), spans 9.3m (30ft) and covers a total area of 85sq m (915sq ft) in Stuttgart University's grounds, where it is used as a new leisure space.

It is the latest addition to the university's Versuchsbauten series of research pavilions, which demonstrate the new possibilities of computer-based design, simulation and manufacturing techniques in architecture.

“The newly-developed construction system has demonstrated its morphological adaptability to create spatially complex structures,” said ITKE in a statement. “This shows the interactions between material, shape, space, structure and robot-controlled production can lead to innovative wood construction.

“The multidisciplinary research approach not only enables an efficient and material-saving lightweight construction, but also explores new spatial and tectonic possibilities for architecture."

Menges and Knippers will next work together on a robotic installation for the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Their Elytra Filament Pavilion will again use biomimicry and fabrication, with robots this time gradually creating a pavilion over six months. An undulating canopy of tightly-woven carbon fibre cells will be formed, inspired by the fibrous structures in the shells of flying Elytra beetles.