There is a Catalonian park in Spain that is home to a 3D Printed Earth Forest Campus, featuring a series of architectural structures printed from earth. The campus is the work of the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, which has leveraged WASP’s large-format 3D printing technology to print these buildings.
Their latest structure features a floor plan that includes enclosed, covered and open areas to demonstrate the variety of architectural features that can be made using 3D printing technology.
The 3D Printed Earth Forest Campus takes advantage of local natural resources. The foundation of the buildings is made up of natural stone for stability and good drainage. Above ground, the first portion is made of stabilized earth base which is resistant to rain and even flooding. This part of the construction was made by casting the earth in a 3D printed formwork, which was recycled and reused. The upper part of the walls were then 3D printed using a material from the park itself: earth that was excavated, dried in the sun, sieved for stones, then mixed with water, organic fiber and a natural enzyme.
The new building in the Earth Forest Campus was printed at a rate of 25 cm (10 inches) of height per day. This was found to be the optimal speed to ensure that the layers would support themselves without collapse. The structure reached its complete height in 10 days. A timber roof was installed when the structure was partially dried and was then anchored to the walls for greater stability.
The walls of the structure are 50% hollow. This architectural feature has several functions. For one, it means less material is used in the building process. For another, it makes it possible to integrate insulation and other systems into the walls, and it helps to ensure proper ventilation.
Unlike other earth-based construction projects which tend to be thick and dark, 3D printing the natural building materials has also enabled lightness through a cantilevered design that features openings that let light and air pour in.
Ultimately, the 3D Printed Earth Forest Campus aims to showcase the potential of alternative construction techniques and how they can take us closer to attaining carbon neutrality while still addressing a need for more housing.
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