3D printing in architecture
From additively manufactured model to 3D printed house
Additive manufacturing can be used in architecture from the first work step to the last. From winning contracts, to visualizing ideas for clients, to using it in building construction and interior design, architects can thus benefit from the technology. We give you an overview of the benefits.
Concept models
Even though there are now many digital options for model creation, physical concept models still play an important role in architecture. On the one hand, architects need these in order to visualize their ideas as clearly as possible and thus to be able to win new projects in the competitive industry. Additionally, physical 3D building models facilitate communication with customers and they can be more easily involved in the planning process, making it easier to make informed decisions.
Traditionally, these models are made by hand from cardboard, wood, ceramics or clay. This not only takes a lot of time, but also makes it laborious to make any changes that may be necessary. This type of model building also becomes more difficult as geometries become more complex.
Additive manufacturing can remedy this situation and significantly simplify and accelerate the process of model creation. While building a model by hand is a lengthy and monotonous process that can take anywhere from several days to weeks, using a 3D printer can significantly shorten this time period. Smaller models can thus be produced within a few hours. The printers can also work around the clock, allowing architects to perform other tasks at the same time. In addition, multiple design concepts can be created and tested in parallel, and iterations can be made quickly. This is particularly advantageous in early project phases in order to identify and eliminate shortcomings at an early stage.
Also, the representation of complex features, such as elaborate facades or artfully structured roofs, can be realized much more easily with the 3D printer than by hand. Furthermore, a wide range of materials and colors are available for 3D printing, which can be used to suit the particular requirements of a model. This allows architects to offer their clients customized designs and the best advice right from the start of a building project.
3D printed buildings
Besides creating architectural models, 3D printing is today already being used in the actual construction of buildings. While buildings have already been constructed using 3D printers for example in the USA, France or Morocco in recent years, the first additively manufactured residential building in Germany was also constructed in 2021. The project was a cooperation between the German construction company Peri and the Danish company COBOD. COBOD's BOD2 modular concrete 3D printer was used and the printing process took just over 100 hours. This example alone shows that, just as in the creation of the models, additive manufacturing also enables enormous time savings in the actual construction of buildings in contrast to conventional construction processes.
As with modeling, additive construction of buildings also allows architects to take advantage of the technology's greater design freedom, and it can be used to implement much more complex geometries than was previously possible. In addition, 3D printing is often better at saving resources than conventional methods. And even though additive manufacturing has not been used for the construction of buildings for very long, research is already being carried out in various projects on environmentally friendly building materials, for example from agricultural waste or plant fibers. Thus, the technology offers the potential to construct buildings in a more environmentally friendly, faster and cheaper way in the future.
Interior design
3D printing also offers numerous new possibilities in the field of interior design and product design. This allows objects such as sculptures, lamps, panels or decorative items to be 3D modeled, printed and then used directly as finished products. Here again, interior architects and designers benefit in particular from the great design freedom offered by additive manufacturing. Also, products can be very easily individualized with the technology and thus optimally adapted to customer requirements. And the aspect of resource savings comes into play in this area as well. Manufacturing using 3D printing generally produces less excess material than conventional manufacturing methods. Moreover, the required products can always be produced in the exact number needed, preventing overproduction as well as costs and space for storage.
In summary, it can be said that the architecture industry can already benefit from the use of additive manufacturing in a wide variety of areas. At the same time, research and work is continuing in many of these areas to integrate 3D printing even better into work processes in the future and thereby take advantage of even more benefits. It therefore certainly remains exciting to follow the further development of additive manufacturing in this industry in the coming years.