• location: Dutch Design Week: Drivers of Change (Show on map)
• program: 3D Concrete Printed Columns
• client: TU/Eindhoven
• design: 2019
• completed: 2019
• design team: Alessia Biffi, Juliette Bekkering, Zeeshan Ahmed, Sjef van Hoof With: Vertico, Volker Ruitinga

3D printing Architectonic Expressions

The 3 Columns are the expressive result of a one year research done in the graduation studio ‘De Centrale Gent’ into 3dCP. The design of the columns was made by Alessia Biffi, supervised by Juliette Bekkering, Zeeshan Ahmed. 

There are many different ways to give the ‘Old Docks’ in Ghent a high-quality boost. Using 3D-concrete printing for example. During a one year research students from the graduation studio ‘De Centrale Gent’ investigated the possibilities of 3D concrete printing and how this novel technique could give the architecture of the area a different identity. The research was based on the themes ‘light’, ‘connections’, ‘patterns’, ‘supporting materials’ and ‘assembly’, to discover aesthetic and sustainable qualities in 3D-concrete print fabrication. 

The research was finalised with a pilot project of three columns of 3 meter high where the different printing techniques, investigated during the studio, were implemented. The columns were exhibited at the DDW 2019.

We really enjoyed working on these prototypes: the making of the 3 columns was a learning proces, where high technology and craftsmanship merge in a beautiful way. 

The columns were printed at Vertico.