14 minute read
5.0 Precedents
from Design by Robots
(1) TerraPerforma, Needlab, 2017 Source: https://www.needlab.org/terraperforma
TERRAPERFORMA
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Terraperforma is a project by IAAC developed at an open thesis fabrication in 2017. The project combines Robotic fabrication, OnSite Printing and Printing with Clay.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Form
The projections cast shadows on the niches thus lowering the heat gain by the wall and the internal waffles create air gaps to reduce heat gain.
Function
A series of physical tests and digital simulations were carried out for wall prototype with respect to solar radiation; day-light; thermal conductivity, convection & mass; and Structural Behavior.
Material
A perfect ratio ofmaterial such as hexametaphosphate,water and gelatin were added to clay to make a composite mixture. This added strength and reduced the drying period of the mixture.
(2) TerraPerforma, Needlab, 2017 Source: https://www.needlab.org/terraperforma
Tools and Digital Softwares
RHINO CFD, Ladybug, Karamba Softwares were used to simulate wind, sun and structural behaviour. The team also developed machines, such as Hygrothermal Monitoring Apparatus and the Load Machine, to pursue further studies.
Structure
The form of the bricks create an interlocking structure, and the internal ribs in the bricks add to its strength. Hence no additional reinforcements are required as supports. The structure is load bearing and self supported.
Innovation/Exploration
A series of physical tests and digital simulations were carried out for wall prototype with respect to solar radiation; day-light; thermal conductivity, convection & mass; and Structural Behavior. These tests helped to understand the potentials of clay as a material and its properties under varied conditions.
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(3) Brick structure, (4) Manufacturing and Assembly of bricks, (5) Perforations in brick, (6) Dried bricks Source: https://www.needlab.org/terraperforma
Printing Perforation
Microperformations are created through a continuous line through the infill layer print, which at one point in the trajectory gets deviated thus creating an opening (Fig 3).
Limitations/ Future Opportunity
Something to rethink is that, can a composite brick be created using the voids inside the brick to infill with insulating materials, thus reducing the thickness of the bricks.
Triple S , Siam Research and Innovation Company (SRI), 2017 Source: https://www.archdaily.com/887403/3d-printing-fuses-thai-craftsmanship-to-create-habitable-concretestructures
TRIPLE ‘S’
Siam Research and Innovation Company (SRI) is a Thailand-based cement manufacturer that has been developing innovations to push the limits of 3D printing in architecture. Their project ‘Triple S’ was developed in the year 2017.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Form
The form was based on traditional Thai craftsmanship to generate idea for surface and structure together. It was a fusion of design and structure carefully thought through exploring potentials of 3D printing.
Function
The structure was not designed just to explore the aesthetical artistic feature but to also serves the function of a shelter.
Material
A mixture of concrete was used print the entire structure.
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(1) Concept Derivation, (2) 3D robotic printing using concrete, (3) Concrete panels joint together, (4) Entire structure assembled together. Source: https://www.archdaily.com/887403/3d-printing-fuses-thai-craftsmanship-to-createhabitable-concrete-structures
Innovation/Exploration
The complexity of cementitious material technology is applied allowing for less weight compared to a traditional fabrication unit such as precast. This will reduce the use of material and makes it a more sustainble technique.
Structure
The inner truss is designed for structural purpose in order to withstand the load. After printing, the 3D printing concrete panel is fabricated with the pattern and serves as a structure for holding its weight. After fabrication, the weaving pattern of final module acts as a truss for structural purposes. The hollow parts can house the conduits and piping needed for the shelter.
Limitations/Future Opportunity
As concrete is a fast setting and non reuseable material, there is no scope for errors and reprinting. Could these forms and patterns be achieved in more natural materials like clay could be the next challenge.
Saltygloo, Emerging Objects,2013 Source: http://emergingobjects.com/project/saltygloo/
SALTYGLOO
Created by Emerging Objects founders, Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello, the Saltygloo is an artistic experiment in using 3D printing technology and additive manufacturing techniques to turn local materials into resilient structures.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Form
The doubly curved form of the Saltygloo is drawn from the forms found in the Inuit igloos.
Function
It looks like a pavilion or can be used as a partition wall that is translucent and the modularity gives the ease of form.
Material
The Saltygloo is made of a combination of salt harvested from the San Francisco Bay and glue, a “salty glue”. It is an ideal 3D printing material, as it is strong, waterproof, lightweight, translucent and inexpensive.
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(1) Translucent light penetrating inside, (2) Alunimium rods for support , (3)-(4) Saltygloo modular panel Source: http://emergingobjects.com/project/saltygloo/
Innovation/Exploration
The makers tried to explore the translucent qualities of the material (a product of the fabrication process and the properties of natural salt). This allows natural light to penetrate in the internal space, which highlights the assembly and structure.
Structure
The panels are connected together to form a rigid shell, further supported with lightweight aluminium rods flexed in tension.
Limitations
The scaling up of the module can be challenging considering the brittle properties of salt.
Gaia House, Wasp, 2018 Source: https://www.3dwasp.com/en/3d-printed-house-gaia/
GAIA HOUSE
WASP, a 3D printing studio based out of Italy, have produced a fullscale residential prototype project, named Gaia House made up of natural ans waste materials.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Form
The printing of material based on raw earth, straw and rice husk is controlled through articulated weaves able to confer at the same time construction stability and geometric pattern variation along the entire wall development.
Function
The project aims to create a template for mass-produced biodegradable, sustainable, cost effective and structurally efficient structures.
Material
Natural waste materials such as vegetable fibers compiled of 25% local soil, 40% straw chopped rice, 25% rice husk, and 10% hydraulic lime, made workable through the use of a wet pan mill.
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(1) 3D visualization explaining the structural behaviour, (2) Wall detail(Plan), (3) Crane and truss installation for printing, (4) Rice husk poured in cavity as insulation Source: https://www.3dwasp.com/en/3d-printed-house-gaia/ 5.0
Innovation/Exploration
It has been designed with the aim of integrating natural ventilation systems and thermo-acoustic insulation systems in one solution. The voids on the outer surface (Fig 2) provides moment of air to reduce heat gain and rise husks were poured into the cavities to insulate the structure.
Structure
The walls are 435 mm thick with cavity created with weaved structure that add to the support. The complete structure is load bearing with wooden frame as support for roof. Wooden sill and lintels are installed for doors and window openings.
Limitations
A big crane and support are needed for construction and it to be difficult to fabricated indoors. A continuous supply of material is required to print. Special care to be taken about climatic conditions as it might affect the strength of the clay mixture.
Building Bytes, Design Lab Workshop Source: https://architizer.com/blog/practice/materials/another-rapid-prototyping-feat-ceramic-bricks-made-with-3dprinters/
BUILDING BYTES
Brian Peters, (co-founder of Amsterdam-based Design Lab Workshop) research examined the process of creating “ceramics at the scale of architecture” while working with fixed limitations such as storage systems and the size of a desktop 3D printer.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Form
The advantage of the form is that the bricks can be stacked vertically to create a solid wall, or can be stacked horizontally to create a porosity like a partition wall.
Function
Peters testing of fabrication process was focused on the uniformity of bricks printed multiple times and variations in relation to a specific form (such as a dome).
Material
The material used for printing is the liquid earthenware recipe, normally used in mould-making, to create a series of ceramic bricks.
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(1) Brick explorations, (3) Verical and horizontal brick stacking, (3) Interlocking brick type A , (4) Interlocking brick type B. Source: https://architizer.com/blog/practice/materials/another-rapid-prototyping-feat-ceramic-bricks-made-with-3dprinters/
Innovation/Exploration
The focus of the workshop was to explore different kinds of bricks, that would help create different kinds of form, even with the modular rigidity they possess.
Structure
The brick modules can be stacked in a vertical and horizontal position and can also be staggereged to reduce continuous vertical joints. The wall made using these bricks can be load bearing and can stand unsupported without reinforcement. The interlocking of the bricks provide stability against any lateral forces on the wall.
Limitations
As the bricks are modular and repetitive, it is a constant form the can be generated. The full potential of 3D printing could be further explored using advanced computational parametric tools to generate a less monotonous form having the same function.
Quake Column, Emerging Objects Source: http://emergingobjects.com/project/quake-column/
QUAKE COLUMN
Brian Peters, (co-founder of Amsterdam-based Design Lab Workshop) research examined the process of creating “ceramics at the scale of architecture” while working with fixed limitations such as storage systems and the size of a desktop 3D printer.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Form
The advantage of the form is that the bricks can be stacked vertically to create a solid wall, or can be stacked horizontally to create a porosity like a partition wall.
Function
Peters testing of fabrication process was focused on the uniformity of bricks printed multiple times and variations in relation to a specific form (such as a dome).
Material
The material used for printing is the liquid earthenware recipe, normally used in mould-making, to create a series of ceramic bricks.
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(1) Brick explorations, (2)-(4) Verical and horizontal brick stacking, (4) Brick numbering, (5) Brick interlocking joints Source: http://emergingobjects.com/project/quake-column/
Innovation/Exploration
The focus of the workshop was to explore different kinds of bricks, that would help create different kinds of form, even with the modular rigidity they possess.
Structure
The brick modules can be stacked in a vertical and horizontal position and can also be staggereged to reduce continuous vertical joints. The wall made using these bricks can be load bearing and can stand unsupported without reinforcement. The interlocking of the bricks provide stability against any lateral forces on the wall.
Limitations
As the bricks are modular and repetitive, it is a constant form the can be generated. The full potential of 3D printing could be further explored using advanced computational parametric tools to generate a less monotonous form having the same function.
Cabin of 3D Printed Curiosities, Emerging Objects, 2018 Source: http://emergingobjects.com/project/cabin-of-3d-printed-curiosities/
CABIN OF CURIOSITIES
The 3D printed cabin brings many of ‘Emerging Objects’ material, software, and hardware experiments together to demonstrate the architectural potential of manufacturing a weather tight structurally sound building.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Form
Designed in a shape of a simple house this cabin house has a green planter wall and shingle like printed modules on the top and sides to make the structure weather tight.
Function
Emerging Objects used the relaxed codes of Oakland government for experimenting backyard cottages towards addressing housing problems at a micro scale.
Material
Several different materials are used, including shades of portland cement, sawdust, chardonnay pomace, and combinations thereof.
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(1) Succulent Wall, (2) 3D Printed ceramic tiles on roof and facade, (3) Seed Stitch pattern on tile , (4) Internal chroma curl wall. Source: http://emergingobjects.com/project/cabin-of-3d-printed-curiosities/
Innovation/Exploration
This is one of a kind of structure that uses different kinds of modular pieces whose form serve the purpose. Each tile is unique as a product of fabrication, during which the tiles wave back and forth creating loops which produce a distinct machine-made texture that is different every time.
Structure
The roof and contiguous facades to the gable are clad in a 3D printed ceramic rain screen of seed stitch tiles which are mounted on a series of battens. Its a framed structure with 3D printed components as cladding. The interior is clad with the Chroma Curl Wall which illuminates the interiors and exterior.
Limitations/Future Opportunity
The explorations can extend to house native plants with a deeper understanding of plants which could help the animal species as well. A irrigation system could be incorporated in design to water the plants automatically.
Artificial Reef Structures, University of Hong Kong Swire Institute of Marine Science, 2020 Source: https://www.archdaily.com/947495/rethinking-artificial-reef-structures-through-3d-clay-printing
ARTIFICIAL REEF STRUCTURES
The project was commissioned by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation (AFCD), and is part of coral restoration project in the Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park in Hong Kong.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Form
A tailored algorithm was used to print the biomimicry patterns integrated with spaces for securing coral fragments.
Function
The project team from HKU used 3D printing technology to engineer structures that can be customized for specific locations with different environmental challenges, thus enhancing the success of the ecological restoration.
Material
Terracotta was used to print the 3D printed coral reef as it is a natural material which helps organisms to grow on surface. It was fired at 1125 degrees Celsius.
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(1) 3D visualization in Rhino , (2) Visualization of coral cluster, (3) Stages of 3D printing , (4) A cluster of printed coral reef. Source: https://www.archdaily.com/947495/rethinking-artificial-reef-structures-through-3d-clay-printing
Innovation/Exploration
The team of marine biologists and architects had developed a series of 3D printed terracotta reef structures to assist in coral restoration, providing structurally complex substrates in a degraded area thus helping the aquatic species.
Structure
The structure was printed in two parts to make the base porous making it easy for the reef to grow and to avoid sedimentation built up. The first layer of triangulation pattern acts as a base surface for the artificial coral reef bed. Column like supports are created to act as footing for the artificial coral reefs.
Future Opportunity
These ideas can be explored in various parts of natural settings and climatic conditions which could help protect and preserve the rare plant and animal species.
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(1) Project: Terraperforma , (2) Project: Triple S , (3) Project: Cabin of Curiosities , (4) Project: Artificial Reef Structures
REFELCTION AND INSPIRATION
The potentials and applications of 3D printing are vast and a lot of research and development is carried out for its uses in various industries.
3D printed bricks allow flexibilty of form and paramteric forms can be printed using computational means. This helps generate a nonmonontonous surfaces which can be used for a specific function or aesthetical beauty. (Assignment 2 explores these factors of clay printing).
The potentials of 3D printing can be explored using different types of materials, but clay is a environmentally sustainable option. As clay is a natural material, it blends with nature and can be used to create structures that can help the ecosystem. (Assignment 3 takes inspiration from ideas that can create a symbiotic environment for the flora and fauna).
