HPA Pavilion

The HPA pavilion is a concrete shell structure that was fully 3D printed. It combines parametric design, non-planar printing and assembly without custom formwork, and it was realized by a consortium of specialists from different fields.

Parametric design

Using parametric software, the team tested many iterations of the pavilion. The final design was approved based on a structural analysis of weather loads and the other forces acting on the object.

Non-planar printing

The structure was split into 8 segments. Each has a complex geometry with variable height and double curvature.

Printing these segments led to the introduction of Vertico's accelerated printhead. Together with controlled conditions in the facility, it made the complex geometry printable.

No custom formwork

One of the major benefits of 3D concrete printing is the potential to eliminate formwork altogether. The segments were printed without any support structure.

They were then assembled using only temporary, standard struts, which can be reused on the next project.

The team behind the pavilion

The pavilion could not have happened without a consortium of like-minded professionals. Thanks to:

• Herman Broekhuizen
• Heilijgers
• Bas de Haan
• Van der Kamp B.V.
• Harmen Zijp
• De War
• Dirk Kaan
• Blueways
• Diederik Veenendaal
• Summum Engineering
• Jelle Feringa
• Fablab Amersfoort

The project was made possible with financial support from the Provincie Utrecht. Read more about the build in the shell structure pavilion project.