Architectonic Explorations of the Possibilities of 3D Concrete Printing: The Historic Building Fragment as Inspiration for New Applications with 3D Concrete Printing in Architecture

The scope of this one-year research, carried out within a graduation studio consisting of 16 students, was to explore how this novel technique can lead to the development of new architectural forms. The graduation-studio called ‘De Centrale Gent, with 3D Concrete Printing’ explored the technique of 3DCP within the historical city of Ghent and through researching, designing and testing by printing. Fase 1: We investigated what the application of this technique could mean for architecture itself, taking the historical facades of the city of Ghent as an inspiration for the development of new printing techniques in 3DCP. We focused on developing a design-‘instrumentarium’ that is specific for the concrete printing technique, as well as on techniques that could push the boundaries of the so far known possibilities in shape, materiality’s, and ornamentation with Concrete Printing in relation to architecture. The research aimed to discover new aesthetic and sustainable qualities in 3D-printed manufacturing, through 5 main topics: light, joints, and patterns, supporting material, and assembling. The research was developed at the Eindhoven University of Technology and the prints were made with the 3DCP in the laboratory of the faculty of the Built Environment. Fase 2: Printing prototypes: A selection of results and findings of the one-year research in the graduation studio have been elaborated and collated into a new final product and summary design for three columns, featuring new aesthetic possibilities in 3DCP.