Sand moulds!
Vertico is part of a research project that shapes sand. Our robot forms the sand into moulds, and we then print concrete lattice structures on top of them.
The project is led by Cristina Nan and Juliette Bekkering of Eindhoven University of Technology, with Neutelings Riedijk Architects and funding from the NWO (Dutch Research Council).
Why sand moulds
Cristina Nan summarizes the aim of the research:
"With our research we address the urgent need for circular construction, reduction of raw-material usage for concrete formwork and the development of optimised material depositing strategies to undercut concrete usage. Sand is used as reusable moulds and substructures for 3DCP, thus renouncing the need for traditional timber scaffolding or plastic-based moulding for casting concrete."
Reusable sand replaces single-use formwork, while optimized deposition strategies in 3D concrete printing aim to reduce the amount of concrete used. For more on this approach, read our article on hybrid 3D printed concrete formwork and see the related sand mould facades project. More results will follow.
Consortium
- Principal investigators: assistant professor Cristina Nan and professor Juliette Bekkering, Chair of Architectural Design and Engineering (ADE), Eindhoven University of Technology (design, computation and robotic fabrication)
- Design development: Neutelings Riedijk Architects, an award-winning architecture practice in Rotterdam specializing in complex building design, with Michiel Riedijk and ChaoYu Huang
- Engineering and robotic fabrication: Summum Engineering, Alessio Vigorito
- 3D concrete printing: Vertico, Eindhoven, with specialists Kees Leemeijer and Orestis Pavlidis
- Betonhuis: Cindy Vissering
- Funding body: NWO (Dutch Research Council)
- Photography: Kees Leemeijer, Vertico
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