PFS Digital Mortise and Tenon Furniture Store by Partyfriendship

A Modern Revival of Traditional Craftsmanship

The PFS Digital Mortise and Tenon Furniture Store in Wuhan is a bold reimagining of traditional Chinese joinery techniques, infused with modern technology and community engagement. Designed by Partyfriendship, the 84-square-meter wooden structure challenges conventional construction by eliminating the use of nails, screws, or adhesives. Instead, it relies entirely on digitally fabricated mortise and tenon joints, drawing on a centuries-old technique reinterpreted through contemporary design thinking.

Community-Driven, Tool-Free Construction

At the heart of the concept lies a belief in accessibility and collective creation. The building is constructed using high-precision CNC-milled components, allowing for dry assembly that requires no specialized labor or technical training. Residents, neighborhood committees, and local public service institutions were invited to participate in the actual building process—transforming the act of construction into a shared civic experience.

The space is intentionally open and modular, designed to foster public participation and democratic design processes, making it more than a furniture store—it becomes a community landmark.

Modular Design for Maximum Efficiency

The building is composed of 20 modular units made from 386 EU-certified pine plywood panels, which were designed with a focus on material efficiency, structural clarity, and ease of assembly. Each module shares common components, enabling fast construction and seamless scalability.

To ensure accuracy, the design team created a full-scale 1:10 prototype, testing everything from component interlocks to spatial ergonomics. The final digital models were fed into a CNC router, which minimized waste by optimizing every cut in advance. Even sawdust and offcuts generated during the process are recycled as biomass fuel by a local business in Hanyang—reinforcing the project’s sustainable ethos.

Sustainable, Scalable, and Culturally Grounded

The PFS Digital Joints project is not just about constructing a building; it's about reviving cultural heritage through innovation. By combining traditional Chinese wood joinery with digital fabrication and open-source community engagement, Partyfriendship crafts a new architectural language—one that is low-carbon, recyclable, and deeply rooted in local identity.