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5 Benefits of Using 3D Printing in Facade Architecture and Construction

A building’s facade
is a challenging, multi-functional aspect of the structure that carries a lot
of responsibility and expectations. It acts as a barrier and protects the
inside from the elements, determines how much light enters the space and also
provides the overall aesthetic to the building. Find out how architects are
using 3D printing to streamline architectural design and construction
processes, freeing up more time and costs to continue innovating.

“Deep
Facade” from ETH Zurich Uses 3D Printing to Produce Complex Geometric Shapes

Deep Facade is a 6×4 meter aluminium structure composed of 26 sections of looping metal cast in a 3D printed open sand mold. It was created by students from the Digital Fabrication course at ETH Zurich in 2018 and evokes the folds of the cerebral cortex. This process makes use of the computational design method called topology optimization, where lightweight material can be used to create highly stable and efficient structures. They used binder jetting technology to fabricate the sand molds which allowed them substantial geometric freedom and sped up the fabrication process due to fast printing time, eliminating patternmaking and reducing material waste. The complexity of the geometric shapes of Deep Facade would not have been possible without the use of digital design and 3D printing. Each mold took under 12 hours to print and once printing began the facade itself was formed in less than half a week. The students’ work on Deep Facade demonstrated that the production of parts with 3D printed sand molds was faster and cheaper than traditional mold making methods, and also showed how efficiently one of a kind complex geometric designs could be produced.

FIT
Additive Manufacturing Group’s “Facade 3000” Demonstrates the Potential for
Mass Individualization with 3D Printing

In Lupburg Germany, FIT created a 3D printed aluminium facade for its boarding house made up of panels each with its own complex pattern of cavities to showcase how to use 3D printing in construction to favor economical individualization. The panels each have a unique arrangement of cavity shapes, each created using aluminium inserts in the molds. They were able to produce 20 different panels simultaneously in rotation. This method of producing unique panel pieces demonstrates that 3D printing is a key resource when it comes to the future of cost-effective mass-individualization and customization in construction.

1 South
First Building by COOKFOX Architects Finds Higher Productivity and Durability
with 3D Printed Molds

The new building at the site of the former Domino Sugar Factory in Brooklyn, NY. consists of two interlocking structures with facades of all-white concrete precast from 3D printed molds. The crystalline facades were designed to emulate sugar crystals and are self-shading with each piece shaped according to its solar orientation. The variations in the panels meant that over 100 different molds were needed, and creating each one took between 14-16 hours instead of taking 40-50 hours each if the molds were made traditionally. The efficiency of the molding process freed up substantial time and the 3D printed molds proved to be more durable than traditional wood and fiberglass molds (which can be used up to 10 times), as they were able to be reused 150-200 times.

Rainier
Square Tower in Seattle by 3Diligent Corp x Walters & Wolf Use 3D Printed
Parts for Better Accuracy and Reliability

In order to create an upward slope from the 4th to the 40th floor in the 59-story Rainier Square Tower in Seattle, Walters & Wolf and digital manufacturing company 3Diligent Corp printed aluminium nodes and wall curtains. 140 3D printed v-shaped nodes and square cut pieces of curtain wall were custom fabricated to geometrically accommodate a different angle for each section of the building. 3Diligent gave Walters & Wolf the option between investment casting and 3d printing and Walters & Wolf decided to use the 3D printed nodes because of their level of precision and structural integrity. Each node was created with varying dimensions up to a cubic foot, another testament to the efficiency and flexibility of 3d printing.

The
“Fluid Morphology” Project in Munich Make Use of Fast Prototyping to Develop
Functionally Integrated Facades

At the Technical University in Munich, Moritz Mungenast and Studio 3F began a project to create a 3D printed facade envelope that integrates ventilation, insulation and shading to become the new facade of the Deutsches Museum in 2020. The facade design is flowing and translucent, resembling Shapeways’ translucent material Accura 60. Studio 3F built a 1.6×2.8 meter section to test for a year to improve the design before making another polycarbonate prototype. The team was able to print 1:1 scale models and prototypes along the way with ease, meaning they were able to fully comprehend the viability of their design, determine production costs, communicate their ideas to their clients and continue developing what they hope to be a widely used facade technology that combines form and function.

In addition to these innovative projects, more and more architecture firms are utilizing 3D printing to achieve a higher level of freedom in design and as a way of making processes more time and cost efficient. 3D printed molds hold up better than traditional wood casts and have a higher range of possibility when it comes to complex geometric shapes. Because of the range of materials available, 3D printing also assures a level of structural reliability for the printing of end-use parts.

Shapeways can print with a variety of materials, including stainless steel, translucent and high strength plastics, and can help you get started with producing custom molds and parts.

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Sustainable Cabin Built on 3D-Printed Concrete Stilts from Infested Ash Wood

Our house had several ash trees in the front and back yard while I was growing up, and we lost three of them due to various acts of nature. Ash is a very soft wood, which is how we lost one to high winds, and another split at the top because it wasn’t well-supported at the bottom. The third was removed because it had been infected by the invasive Emerald Ash Borer beetle, a nasty little bugger that’s not even native to the US but is here wreaking havoc anyway.

Obviously, ash trees that have been infected and destroyed by the EAB aren’t often used for construction purposes, both because sawmills can’t process the wood, and due to their odd, irregular shapes. These trees are then usually burned or left to decompose, neither of which is a great option.

“Unfortunately, both scenarios release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and so the advantage to using compromised ash for construction is that is that it both binds the carbon to the earth and offsets the harvesting of more commonly used wood species,” said Sasa Zivkovic, the Co-Principal of New York-based architecture studio HANNAH.

The Ithaca studio—founded in 2014 by Zivkovic, along with fellow co-principal Leslie Lok, Alexander Chmarin, and Alexander Graf—worked with a group of Cornell University students to create the tiny but striking Ashen Cabin, located off the grid in upstate New York. The collaborative project was meant to be a small-scale study regarding sustainable construction, and combined EAB-infested ash wood with 3D printing to build the cabin.

“By implementing high precision 3D scanning and robotic based fabrication technology, HANNAH transforms Emerald-Ash-Borer-infested “waste wood” into an abundantly available, affordable, and sustainable building material. From the ground up, digital design and fabrication technologies are intrinsic to the making of this architectural prototype, facilitating fundamentally new material methods, tectonic articulations, and forms of construction,” the studio’s website states.

As architects are looking to construct houses more sustainably, these kinds of small, off-grid residences are becoming more popular housing options, and Ashen Cabin definitely fits the bill. The tiny residence, featuring walls made of infested ash wood, is elevated by 3D-printed concrete stilts, which form the angular base of the cabin and its heavy, hulking extrusions.

HANNAH stated, “The project aims to reveal 3D printing’s idiosyncratic tectonic language by exploring how the layering of concrete, the relentless 3D deposition of extruded lines of material, and the act of corbelling can suggest new strategies for building.”

All of the cabin’s 3D-printed concrete shapes, including the tall, curved chimney and fireplace, furniture, textured floor, and prismatic legs, have a distinct linear pattern that features jagged edges. By using 3D printing, HANNAH was able to lower its carbon footprint and reduce waste by using less material than would normally be required, as a concrete mold was unnecessary.

Lok explained, “By using 3D printing, we eliminate the use of wasteful formwork and can deposit concrete smartly and only where structurally necessary, reducing its use considerably while also maintaining a building’s integrity.”

Concrete was also used to 3D print a unique seating platform, which can be opened up to use for storage. A bench made of marine-grade plywood, painted black to offer a pleasing contrast to the light siding, extends out from the seat in order to form a single bed.

A robotic arm with a band saw attachment cut the irregular ash logs into curving boards of different thicknesses. Both the exterior and interior of Ashen Cabin are covered with the wavy timber panels, which also define the structure’s four, black plywood-framed windows and were used to create other architectural features, like surfaces and shelving, inside.

The studio explained, “The curvature of the wood is strategically deployed to highlight moments of architectural importance such as windows, entrances, roofs, canopies, or provide additional programmatic opportunities such as integrated shelving, desk space, or storage.”

Focusing on the aesthetics of the cabin, the wood boards will naturally turn grey over time, so that the siding will eventually match the color of the concrete. Its 3D-printed concrete floors feature interlocking designs, and the windows are all oriented so they face the surrounding wooded landscape. The scenery makes it look like any residents of Ashen Cabin will be in their own little world.

Speaking of off-grid living, Ashen Cabin does not have power or running water. The temperature is regulated through its wood-burning fireplace and foam insulation, while a small camping sink, also 3D-printed out of concrete, provides the water.

Discuss this news and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the comments below.

(All photos taken by Andy Chen, HANNAH)

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Applications of 3D Printing in Architectural Restoration

Over the last century we’ve seen the aesthetic of building facades shift from ornately crafted, historical styles to more minimalist, sleeker designs. This simpler style arose from the presence of new technologies and materials including steel and concrete, as well as an emphasis on efficiency and utility, rather than ornamentation. The cost of restoring historic buildings has greatly increased as the number of craftsmen has dwindled. Many of these buildings are subsequently demolished and representations of historic architecture styles are erased. With the emergence of 3D printing technology, however, the possibilities of design and the preservation of these historical buildings are shifting again.

EDG’s
“Modern Ornamental” Method for Restoring Facades

In New York, architecture and engineering firm EDG developed a method for restoring historical buildings in the city called “Modern Ornamental.” The firm created complex molds to cast replicas of the parts needed to restore these buildings. 3D printing technology enables designers to scan any portion of a building and input the design and texture data into their 3D modeling software. Once the design information has been processed, a sturdy plastic mold of that part can be 3D printed. A mold would then be coated with a bond-breaker, inlaid with wire mesh and stirrups and cast with concrete. The design can then be catalogued and re-printed at any time. According to EDG, their process for printing and casting molds takes under a day to complete.

3DION x
voxeljet’s Restoration of the Michael Portal at Cologne Cathedral

Directly 3D printing parts in different materials is also possible depending on the pieces involved. In Germany, 3DION 3D network and voxeljet teamed up to restore a piece of the Cologne Cathedral called the Michael Portal. After the portal was cleaned they decided to 3D print new replicas of the patrons of the Michael Portal. The 108 figures in the portal as well as existing plaster templates from the 19th century were 3D scanned and scaled and the patron replicas were printed from the CAD data over the course of one weekend using PMMA powder. The replicas were then reinforced by epoxy resin.

Sismaitalia’s
Capital Restoration at Spada Palace

Italian large format
digital printing company Sismaitalia produced five life-sized capitals for the
19th century Spada Palace in Ferrara by printing hollow replicas and filling
them with polyurethane foam. They were then finished with plaster and painted
to match the rest of the structure. This method ensured that manufacturing
costs would be kept to a minimum without foregoing the aesthetic.

Potential
for Restoring Notre Dame with 3D Printing

Notre-Dame Cathedral (Notre Dame de Paris)

After Notre Dame caught fire in 2019 and was severely damaged, it was clear the costs and the limits of historical materials would make restoration very difficult. Many of the materials originally used to build it no longer exist. However, with the use of 3D printing, a lot of the restoration work can be conducted at a much lower cost while maintaining authenticity and precision.

This has sparked ideas to utilize 3D printing for Notre Dame’s restoration. Dutch company Concr3de conducted a test print of one of Notre Dame’s gargoyles using a mixture of limestone and ash to stay as close to the original materials as possible. Kansas City company Dimensional Innovations proposed printing the entire iconic 300-foot spire. Now that full homes are 3D printable, it is not out of the question that larger scale components could be similarly printed as well.

The
Benefits of Using 3D Printing in Restoration

3D printing technology presents many solutions to restoring historic structures, buildings and monuments. The ability to precisely 3D scan any component of a building is a game changer when it comes to saving time and energy in recreating important pieces. Compared to crafting these pieces by hand, 3D printing can be a much more efficient process. 3D printed molds can be extremely high quality while producing less waste than other technologies, allowing more creativity and leeway than precast concrete.

Find out how you can utilize 3D printing to build your ideal architectural styles and influences without sacrificing cost.

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The Benefits of 3D Printing Architectural Concept Models

A concept model is crucial for being able to visualize an architectural structure as accurately as possible. Having a model makes it possible for every member of the team to be on the same page as well as allowing communication with clients in greater detail. Concept models have traditionally been made by hand by cutting out the shapes in paper, cardboard, foam-core or timber and it can take anywhere from days to weeks to complete a large context model. Many firms’ model shops have now been switching over to 3D printing to create their models instead for a number of different reasons.

Easing Communication Between Designers and Clients

When it comes to
communicating complex design ideas, the clients need to be able to fully
visualize what they are signing on for. If a design is overly theoretical or
technical that the client cannot fully understand it this could lead to
problems later on. 3D printing produces cleaner and more contemporary looking
tangible models with as much detail as possible and allows clients to make
informed decisions and give better feedback. It allows the client to more
directly visualize information like materials, colors and design elements.

Efficiently Testing, Editing and Refining Designs

Many times a model
needs to be reiterated a number of times to allow for alterations. Where the
typical process for producing a model takes time and can be quite expensive, 3D
printing the model makes it much easier to change the 3D design and then
rapidly create a new prototype within a couple of hours. This makes testing and
refining designs a much quicker process. Saving the designs also cuts time out
for future projects, if any of the information for previous designs becomes
useful again.

Improving Quality in Details and Materials

3D printing also
allows for an extremely high level of intricacy and details that are much more
difficult to produce by hand. Designers can use 3D printing to demonstrate
connections between structural elements (interlocking, overlapping, for
example) in multiple configurations to develop site plans in the most accurate
way possible. It is also easier to create more complex structural details like
domes and arches. 3D printers can use different materials for different aspects
of the models to further illustrate their concept. Some popular choices include
Nylon Plastic, transparent resin or metal. 3D printed models are much more
durable than paper or cardboard.

Extending 3D Printing to Prototypes and Specific Design
Elements

The usability of 3D
printing extends past full concept model making as well. Using a 3D printer, it
is possible to print concept models of specific parts of the buildings being
designed, like facades for different walls and other textures to further
illustrate design ideas. Parts can be 3D printed in full, but casts can also be
printed to create the prototype of a ceramic tile, for example, much easier and
quicker. Prototypes of the structure can then come to life long before the
build is complete.

When it comes to designing anything, especially such large scale entities like buildings or landscapes, 3D printing helps to streamline the process by visually communicating these ideas. Many architecture firms have begun acquiring their own desktop 3D printers to be able to produce models and prototypes quickly and at low cost. As 3D printing is still a relatively new technology there can be a learning curve in the transition to using it which makes outsourcing to specialized 3D printing companies like Shapeways a constructive alternative.

Shapeways offers consultations with 3D engineers to ensure efficiency and printability of the design in question at the highest quality, making the printing process as smooth as possible. Even as the use of desktop printers becomes easier it can be beneficial to outsource to printers like Shapeways who can deliver a specialized level of precision, print with a wider range of materials and guarantee efficiency in order to create top quality, high detail models for client showcases or trade shows. Creating models with as much detail and accuracy as possible is of the utmost importance not only for showing manufacturers but also for engaging clients.

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4 Incredible Examples Of 3D Printed Homes

Building a house has always been a time consuming, expensive and labor intensive task. With 3D printing, this traditionally difficult process is changing with the technology now increasing efficiency and lowering costs. In the last few years full scale 3D printed homes, bridges, cabins, and large scale structures have been popping up more and more. These projects present new and unique design concepts and help expand affordable housing. 

3D printing helps make the process much less expensive and time consuming. Because 3D printed structures are relatively quick to produce, this makes them an ideal solution for emergency and low income housing. It also allows for the use of unconventional shapes and textures that would be highly expensive to create otherwise. 3D printing is also more environmentally friendly, as it is possible to print using raw soil and waste from the rice production chain or print using our overabundance of plastic. 

There are many intriguing examples of completed and ongoing 3D printed house projects appearing all over the world. Here are just a few of those.

Source: 3DWasp

The Gaia Earth House

In Italy, Crane WASP Technology created Gaia, a house made out of natural materials from the surrounding area. They developed a compound composed of 25% of soil taken from the site (30% clay, 40% silt and 30% sand), 40% from straw chopped rice, 25% rice husk and 10% hydraulic lime to print the house. It has almost no environmental impact and does not need any heating or air conditioning in winter or summer.

Source: Dezeen

The Succulent Ceramic Tiled Shed

After a housing shortage in the San Francisco Bay Area, restrictions on accessory dwellings were loosened allowing people to build extra housing in backyards. A company called Emerging Objects created a 120 square foot 3D printed backyard shed, the front of which is completely covered with 3D printed succulent planters. The roof and the rear and side facades are covered in a 3D printed ceramic screen composed of 4,500 ceramic tiles.

Source: HuaSheng Tengda

The 45 Day Villa

In China, a company called HuaSheng Tengda printed a 400 square foot villa live and on-site in 45 days. The 250mm thick walls of the villa were printed using 20 tons of C30-grade concrete making it highly durable. It was even found to be able to withstand an earthquake up to a level eight on the Richter Scale after seismic testing.

Source: Icon

New Story + ICON’s 3D Printed Community in Tabasco, Mexico

New Story, a non-profit organization building affordable and secure homes for those in need has partnered with Austin, Texas based ICON to create a community of 3D printed homes granted to families in extreme poverty or unsafe shelters. These 500 square foot homes feature 2 bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and bath and were each printed in 24 hours over several days by ICON’s Vulcan II.

These projects illustrate the wide range of possibility that 3D printing offers the architecture world. It shows that it is becoming more and more possible to create secure, environmentally friendly and affordable homes for more people not only expanding design innovation and opportunity but providing relief for those in need.

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8 Reasons Why 3D Modeling is in Demand in Architecture

3D modeling is increasingly used in various fields of human life and activity. For a long time, that technique has gone beyond the use of purely in the entertainment industry, although there it is still actively being introduced and improved. But not only games and animation are the main consumers of 3D models.

Today, more than ever, this technology is in demand in architecture and construction. And we will give you as many as 8 reasons for the popularity of 3D in these areas.

Reason 1: Realism

   Although the main drawings of any architectural structure are carried out in two-dimensional space, it is the 3D layout that allows us to evaluate their accuracy and compliance with the set goals, construction standards and utility. As a tradition, architectural design is the creation of textual and graphic documentation. Using three-dimensional modeling, the design process greatly simplifies and speeds up the creation of functional prototypes – as a result, the architect and the customer receive a functional prototype, the finalization of which takes a minimum of time and has maximum efficiency.

   For many years, architectural companies have been using CAD (Computer-Aided Design) to create projects. But if you need a model with maximum accuracy and detail, it is much easier to order it from a special company that is directly involved in the development of three-dimensional samples, including building a 3D model.

Reason 2: Speed

   When architects worked with paper, the time they needed to perform at least basic drawings and visualizations was very long. Building a 3D model using computer technology takes much less time, while it is almost impossible to make mistakes in the calculations.

   Now you do not need to delay the moment of presentation to the customer of your project – just use the finished model or order its production according to your references.

Reason 3: Detail Quality

    We already touched on this parameter in the first paragraph, but it is worth noting it separately: modern software in the hands of a skilled specialist allows you to achieve maximum compliance of details with customer requirements or the ideas of the designer. As a result, you get a ready-made layout that you can rotate in space to consider the quality of wall decoration, the interior, or even the decor pattern on the walls.

Reason 4: The Ability to Create a Full-Fledged Layout Based on the 3D Model

   Technologies are easily combined, and modern architectural 3D models can be embodied not only on a computer screen but also transferred to a completely tangible form. Get a three-dimensional image of your project and just print it using a 3D printer – the layout is ready! If your customers require you to visualize your idea, this is a great solution.

Reason 5: Possibility of a Good Study of Internal Zoning

   This reason is especially relevant for commercial construction. A full-scale model allows zoning the area with greater efficiency, “filling” the internal space of trading floors and galleries with goods and decor items, as well as “testing” the convenience of layout from the point of view of customers and employees.

Reason 6: Advertising

   If you initially set the task of promoting the projected project, whether it be an apartment building, a skyscraper or a future shopping center, it is the ready-made visualization in three-dimensional space that will help you with this. Use it in commercials, engage in promotional materials or present at architectural exhibitions and negotiations with investors – when a potential buyer sees exactly what he is going to pay his money for, his credit of trust in you will increase significantly.

Reason 7: Revision

    If you are trying to implement a building concept that exists only in the imagination of the customer, all ideas and concepts can easily be embodied in the primary model, the process of finalizing which in terms of functionality and aesthetics will take a minimum amount of time;

Reason 8: Money

   Ordering an architectural 3D model is always profitable because it allows you to save on several things at once:

• The painstaking manual work of a designer or architect, who will need to pay for difficult work.

• On making additions and reworking the order.

• On a separate development of layouts for the customer and advertising: a three-dimensional model can serve both here and there.

Three-dimensional technology rules the world. They show it realistically and in detail. This is especially noticeable in the example of the use of 3D models in architecture.

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Dezeen Day Recap

Dezeen Day

The first annual Dezeen Day conference, was definitely a sight to see and I will do my best to share my opinions on the day as a whole. I did not know what to expect going into the conference, but it seemed like it would be a fun time so I decided to go. It turned out to be an eye-opening and interesting experience.

Firstly I want it to be known that architects and designers think in such an interesting manner. I say this because you can see and hear the fascination they all have with life and building. They try to answer seemingly impossible questions. They design things through such innovative means. My brain was in pain throughout the day. It was not bad pain. It was the pain you get when learning something that is out of your comfort zone; it hurts now but you will feel amazing later. The way designers think allows them to have no fear of tackling large issues. The focus of this particular conference was on the Circular Economy and sustainability practices within design. In the design community, there is no one way to solve a problem. There are various ways to tackle an issue. Through the panel discussions and keynote speakers, we got a sense of how there are so many people working in different sectors of design to make this happen. I will reflect on a couple of major talks and discussion points from some of the panel conversations.

The first talk of the day was my favorite, and it had a lot of information packed within it. Paola Antonelli, the Senior Curator of the Department of Architecture & Design and the Director of R&D at MOMA, gave an interesting perspective to the audience. Her belief is that the understanding of humans and their likely extinction can lead to better resulting futures. What I deduced from this was that being aware of extinction leads us to be aware of the future generations and people we may be affecting. It is important for us to focus on future scenarios and think about how our actions can hurt others. This begs the question, “What can people do?”. The rest of the conference was aligned toward answering the question of what can people do to make effective change for the future within design. Paola also stated, “We want people to understand the complexity of the systems but not to be scared of them.” Designers are able to readily grasp design thinking and problem solving, but a variety of people outside the field may not be able to implore the same skills. This makes it important for design to help others outside of its community, and Dezeen Day also had a discussion on education reform. The conference was interwoven and facilitated elegantly. Each panel there was able to feed into one another.

Paola Antonelli at Dezeen Day

There was a lot of information packed within this talk so I did my best to summarize a lot of her ideologies and main points of discussion. The talk had a focus on waiting for making things. Within the design community, ideas are a dime a dozen, but which ones are effective? Typically the ones that well mapped out and executed over time. This ties into her discussion about extinction. We are planning towards building better infrastructures to help humanity over time, and this takes a lot of diligence. This reflected the rest of the day in terms of discussions and panel conversations.

Throughout the discussion, Paola was highlighting the various art she curated for her Broken Nature Exhibition and the significance of each piece. Something of interest to me was the scientific lens that most of the pieces were taking. It lead to other discussion panels throughout the day focused on science, design, and architecture.

A final large takeaway of the talk was that anger could be a source of change.

The only way to live well is to be for others or amongst others. Anger could be a better engine to try and improve things in the future.

This mindset is interesting as it shows the raw emotion needed to drive change. Anger is a great motivator for change because when we are lukewarm, complacent and not very engaged with our surroundings, we have no reason to improve.

The rest of the conference was conducted through the lens of the initial talk. The discussion panels held were the following:

  • Panel discussion: post-plastic materials
  • Panel discussion: future cities
  • Keynote: Liam Young
  • Conversation: Designing for the circular economy
  • Panel discussion: entrepreneurs
  • Panel discussion: fixing education
  • Keynote: Dr. Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg

Work by Arthur Mamou-Mani

The ideals and conversations at the conference were outlined thoroughly with this introductory talk with Paola. I personally resonated well with the Panel Discussion for Post-Plastic Materials. The conversation was oriented towards the various ways we as humans can be innovative in the materials we are using. I was able to talk to some people from the discussion panel after their talk such as Natsai Audrey Chieza. She is a designer and founder of Faber Futures, and they create biologically inspired materials. After hearing the talk and seeing the work that these individuals are doing it opened me up to a critical lens of understanding with societal material usage. It also inspired me to think big in ways that seemed unfathomable. This was the result of listening to Arthur Mamou-Mani. Arthur is an architect and director of Mamou-Mani Architects. He also specializes in digital fabrication and advanced bioplastics. I was in awe by the extremely large structures he creates with 3D printing and the use of wood. I will be following up on his work later as well.

I also met some other people who helped with the conference. This included Stacie Woolsey who is a design graduate who created her own master’s course. We were able to have a fun chat before her actual panel discussion. She definitely is a great inspiration for young people who want to rid of the typical educational model. I will be discussing this thought process a bit more later.

There were a couple of conversations had about 3D printing and biomaterials that I will be discussing more in-depth because they require some more research. For the overall conference though, it was a good time. The staff was excellent, and the overall programming was extremely engaging. There was no moment without engagement talk wise. I am a reporter who mostly focuses on 3D printing, but after the conference, my eyes have opened up significantly to the importance of design practices. It was awesome to see people who were combining architecture, bioengineering, and design to build interesting things.

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Coding for 3D Part 4: Rhino, Grasshopper and Weaverbird Setup

Rhino

After doing research on how we are going to attack this series with our toolbox of resources, we are setting up our environment for exploration. Setting up the build environment is simple enough, but it is vital. Even with our build environment, there are specific subtle things we need to do for our purposes of creation. We will go through some of these items in this article while highlighting some other integral parts.

Firstly we need to download Rhino for our modeling purposes. To do so check out this link for a free 90 day trial version of Rhino. After going through the download instructions, we can now use Rhino. When I first opened Rhino, frankly I was intimidated. I have used various 3D modeling environments and software, but Rhino’s interface is a lot to handle. No disrespect to Rhino as a package as it is great, but it seems to have a steep learning curve. It has various plugins and tools ready for your disposal. Something important to remember is that having various tools is often not the best route when building anything. This is a methodology I take in terms of technical project building as well as physical product manufacturing. My goal with Rhino is to build parametric designs through coding, so I have a precise route to learning. This allows me to get to the meat of what I want to do quickly. I would not benefit from a large overview of Rhino at this point. A lot of what Rhino has tool wise does look intriguing, but we will stay focused when using it. Otherwise our curiosity may let us stray from our path to getting things done.

Download Window for Rhinoceros

The biggest advantage of Rhino is the number of plugins available for it. These plugins are the essence of utility. We will focus on two plugins for Rhino in this series. The first plugin of interest to use is Grasshopper. Grasshopper is an algorithmic modeling plugin for Rhino. It uses a visual programming language vs. a typical text-based coding language. It also gives you the ability to reference geometrical objects from Rhino. The ability to create intriguing geometry quickly and with comparative ease is the main benefit of Grasshopper.

Grasshopper Build Environment

The second plugin of choice for us is Weaverbird. Weaverbird is a topology based modeler. It gives a designer the ability to make known subdivisions and transformation operators. This plugin allows us to automate subdivisions and reconstructing of shapes. It is a great plugin due to its ability to help in fabrication as well as rapid prototyping of ideas.

Weaverbird

Something I appreciate from Rhino is how extensive the program is from just looking at it briefly. Various software packages I have used are expansive, but Rhino seems to take things to a different level. The mind of an architect is very expansive, so their tool of choice needs to have various tools within its utility belt. I am excited to somewhat learn the mindset of an “architect” through operating in this program.

For the next installment of this series, we will try to make a simple 2D parametric design that can be extruded into 3D form. I realize the importance of 2D drawing and going to the 3D level as it makes product creation much easier. It flows better and it makes the ability to iterate more intuitive. So look out for that in our next article.

The post Coding for 3D Part 4: Rhino, Grasshopper and Weaverbird Setup appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

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You’ll Soon Be Able to Rent a 3D-Printed Dwelling Designed for Mars

NewImage

Utilizing space-age building techniques (and aesthetic), these beehive cottages were designed for mars!

Via Design-Milk:

The vertical TERA maximizes livable square footage while minimizing its physical footprint on the land. AI SpaceFactory intends to transport a 3D printing robot to the site to build TERA following a laser scan of the site’s topography, eliminating the need to level the ground/foundation. And when the structure begins to show the signs of breaking down, the biopolymer basalt composite housing can be easily recycled.

Tera 3Dprinted 6

Learn more!

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Conifera: COS Commissions Sustainable Bioplastic Structure

Milan Design Week always has many offerings, so much so the courtyard itself is drawing eyes. The Palazzo Isimbardi, located behind the 16th-century palazzo, the establishment houses a 3D printed design marvel. Commissioned by fashion brand COS, Conifera is London-based architect Arthur Mamou-Mani’s sustainable bioplastic structure greets attendees at the centre of the premises. It is one of […]

The post Conifera: COS Commissions Sustainable Bioplastic Structure appeared first on 3D Printing.