Introduction: A New Era for Public Space Design
Cities are rethinking public space. Instead of uniform benches and rigid forms, we’re seeing adaptable, expressive elements that respond to people and place. At the core of this shift is 3D printed architecture—technology that unlocks design freedom, speeds up workflows, and makes smarter use of materials.
With 3D concrete printing and parametric design, architects can now prototype, iterate, and install fully custom urban features—without molds or material waste. The result? Furniture that’s more than functional. It’s architectural, local, and built to adapt.
How 3D Concrete Printing Enhances Architectural Design Possibilities
With 3D concrete printing, form follows imagination. Parametric design tools let architects and designers generate structures that shift, adapt, and evolve with the push of a slider—creating forms that were once too complex, too expensive, or too time-consuming to build.
Each variable—curvature, thickness, density—can be tuned digitally. The result? Architectural elements that are optimized for both visual impact and structural logic.
We put this into practice at Dutch Design Week, creating a series of unique pedestals that served both as functional display pieces and as an installation in themselves. Each piece was generated through parametric logic and printed without molds, allowing for fast iteration and full material control.
📎 Project overview → Pedestals for Dutch Design Week
📖 Deep dive → How parametric design shaped the final results
Customization at Scale: The Role of Digital Fabrication
Digital fabrication turns a digital model into a physical object—directly, precisely, and without retooling. At Vertico, this means we can take a parametric design file, adapt it in real time, and send it straight to our robotic printing system—no molds, no manual intervention.
This approach came to life in our Structural Columns project. Each column was designed to accommodate different internal reinforcements, height requirements, and load-bearing capacities—all while maintaining a consistent outer form language.
The adjustments were made digitally, and printed using the same robotic setup in one continuous workflow.
That’s the core power of digital fabrication: you’re not locked into a fixed design or forced to repeat one solution.
Every element can be site-specific, structurally tuned, and visually distinct—without slowing down production.
Color and Texture in 3d printed concrete furniture
In 3D printed concrete, texture isn’t added—it’s inherent to the process. Every layer, curve, and surface ripple is shaped by the toolpath, material flow, and print speed. This gives each object its own natural identity—tactile, readable, and architecturally honest.
At Vertico, we’ve taken that further by experimenting with real-time gradient shifts during printing. These columns, for example, showcase how pigment can be dynamically introduced throughout the print, creating seamless color transitions that follow the geometry of the object.
But the same precision applies to smaller-scale pieces too. Our concrete pot collection explores variation in form and finish—each one uniquely shaped and shaded, all printed using the same robotic setup.
This level of precision is made possible by Vertico’s custom Accelerator Printhead and proprietary Vertico Slicer software. Together, they allow real-time control of flow rate and pigment variation—meaning texture and color aren't applied later, they're printed directly into the geometry.
Modular Urban Elements as Architectural Statements
Modular design isn’t new—but when paired with robotic concrete printing, it evolves from repetitive blocks to expressive, structural systems.
Take our HPA Pavilion. This shell structure was made from a series of printed concrete segments, each geometrically unique and engineered to fit into a self-supporting form. There was no steel rebar, no custom formwork—just digital precision, robotic control, and smart geometry.
It’s not just about construction efficiency—it’s about letting form and function work together. In urban contexts, this means walls that guide people, roofs that gather light, or structures that double as art
Each module of the HPA Pavilion was generated parametrically and printed using Vertico’s robotic concrete printing system.
What Makes Color Gradient a Unique Feature in Our Designs?
One of the most exciting features of 3D concrete printing is the ability to introduce color gradients directly into the design. This opens up a whole new level of aesthetic potential, allowing for beautiful, seamless color transitions that can make any structure stand out. At Vertico, we’ve developed a color station that allows us to control the pigment injection process with precision, creating smooth, gradual transitions between colors. This method not only adds a vibrant visual appeal to our pieces but also offers the flexibility to create dynamic color patterns that would be difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional concrete techniques.
Our latest experiments focus on refining this process even further, pushing the boundaries of color control to achieve even more fluid and consistent gradients. In the striped bench featured in our recent designs, each stripe represents a different speed of color injection, creating a unique and eye-catching effect. This ability to create customized color patterns means that our designs can be fully tailored to the surrounding environment, blending seamlessly into any space or standing out as a bold statement piece.
How Are Modular Furniture and Structures Revolutionizing Public Spaces?
Vertico is also proud to have worked on large public space projects. One of our notable projects is a parametric bench designed for the Tanthof Children’s Farm Foundation in Delft. This curved, over 20-meter-long bench serves as seating and edging for a large sand play area for toddlers.
What makes this project special?
- Inclusivity: 3D printing enabled the creation of varied seating heights, ensuring comfort for everyone, from children to grandparents. Unlike traditional methods, this design decision didn't increase production costs.
- Material Reduction: The bench was designed as a hollow structure, reducing material use by 75%, making it both eco-friendly and cost-effective
- Formwork Elimination: No formwork was used in the creation of the bench, further reducing waste and resource consumption.
We’re excited to contribute to this fun and sustainable playground space, with future plans to optimize the material for even lower cement content, further reducing environmental impact.
Another notable project is the organized plant space in an office building, a prime example of modular urban furniture. This project, in collaboration with Heilijgers, demonstrates the versatility of 3D printed urban furniture, blending seamlessly with modern architecture while offering endless design variations.
How Does 3D Printed Urban Furniture Contribute to Sustainable and Adaptable Spaces?
The ability to create customizable, sustainable, and adaptable furniture for public spaces is what sets 3D printed urban furniture apart. Whether it’s in playgrounds, office buildings, or outdoor spaces, 3D concrete printing offers a unique way to transform urban landscapes, making them more functional, eco-friendly, and visually appealing.
