Exploring color integration in 3D concrete printing
This project explores how color can become part of 3D concrete printing itself. Pigment is injected directly into the print process, so gradients, saturation and contrast are built up layer by layer instead of being painted on afterward.
The result is a striped column that treats color as a dimension of precision fabrication, not as decoration.
Why color matters in concrete
Concrete is usually known for neutral grey tones and a utilitarian role. Printing color gradients into it turns it into a design material that can define space, guide people and communicate identity.
Color transitions give architects and designers more to work with: new textures, wayfinding solutions and emotional expression in both public and private spaces.
The striped column experiment
The striped column shows how much control is now possible over pigment injection. Each stripe is defined by a variable flow rate of pigment, managed in real time by the robotic arm and controlled through Vertico's in-house software.
These effects depend on Vertico's Accelerator Printhead. It allows precise layer control and pigment blending without reducing build speed or print fidelity.
The experiment shows what happens when hardware precision is combined with parametric design.
Design and material expression
Beyond the technical work, the column is a design piece. It treats concrete as a medium for storytelling in architectural and urban settings.
The project connects to other design-led work at Vertico, such as 3D printed urban furniture for public spaces, where concrete is both functional and expressive.
A colored column and a modular bench follow the same principle: material development combined with digital design freedom. More on the technique is in our article on color transitions in 3D concrete printing.
Shown at Dutch Design Week 2024
The striped column made its public debut during Vertico's Dutch Design Week 2024 showcase. Visitors saw up close how gradients in concrete change the way a printed object is perceived.
DDW was a platform to present computational concrete printing as a tool for both form exploration and environmental storytelling.
Build your own setup
You can build your own 3D concrete printer setup with Vertico, including the accelerant system, custom printhead and robotic platform used to make this column.
These systems are configured for creative studios, architecture firms and research institutions that want to explore multi-material workflows and the visual qualities of concrete.
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