THE HILL
PROF.: SVEN PFEIFFER
TASK
Designing a temporary pavilion for the International Garden Exhibition (IGA) 2027 in Duisburg, Germany.
PERSONAL GOAL
Exploring how modern technology can directly shape and influence the space in which people interact.
RESULT
A fully 3D-printed building constructed from earth, designed to be easily disassembled or "washed" away after its use.
"THE HILL" is a project that places a strong emphasis on exploring and researching the 3D printing process using earth as the primary material. Within the context of a pavilion for IGA 2027, the project aims to design a sustainable and inclusive structure that invites visitors to explore and utilize it.
My personal goal was to create and research in the field of human-machine-space interaction, finding ways in which space can be directly created through technology and how this space can be utilized by people. Here, the interplay of people in a space created through technology, both among themselves and with the space, and this in connection with high-tech and low-tech, presented a particularly interesting field of tension.
At the beginning of the project, extensive research was conducted regarding the possibilities, challenges, and techniques of 3D printing with earth. More on this can be found below.
The result is a building that seamlessly integrates both aesthetically and technologically with its surroundings. The construction of the building will take place on the opposite side of Rheinpark, Duisburg, which serves as a floodplain. This location ensures that the deconstruction of the building after the IGA is a natural and 100% sustainable process.
CONSTRUCTION CONCEPT
Creating an integrative, sustainable building that is temporarily integrated into its environment through an autonomous process.
EVENT CONCEPT
Establishing a multifunctional space that serves as a cultural venue and exchange hub during the day, transitioning into an event space at night.
IMPLEMENTATION
By utilizing earth as the primary building material, supplemented with natural additives to ensure stability and strength, the structure becomes particularly sustainable. Through the technique of 3D printing, this can autonomously function with proper planning. The space resulting from this combination of low-tech and high-tech can then be freely utilized.
POSITIONING
RESULT
The building integrates the excavation work from the construction pit, necessary for the procurement of topsoil, as an essential part of its design. This allows the overall structure to be lowered, creating a more intimate spatial experience.
Within the structure, there are covered, internal paths that also serve as exhibition spaces, as there are regular recesses in the walls where objects, etc., can be displayed. These corridors further emphasize and enhance the feeling of being underground. The spacious foyer provides space for daytime activities such as readings and can host various events and celebrations at night.
Apart from the interior installations like wood paneling and lighting, the building is already completely finished through the printing process.
The deliberate integration of the excavation work into the design ensures that the building harmoniously and naturally blends into its surroundings. With a maximum elevation of two meters above ground level, it is ensured that one cannot look directly into the event space from outside, while the building itself appears like a natural hill in the landscape.
RESEARCH & DESIGN PROCESS
The decision on a construction technique was made at the beginning of the project when I opted for the experimental field of 3D printing. This decision stemmed partly from my previous interest and experience with 3D printing gathered from other projects, but also because I saw the project as an opportunity to experiment with how technology can directly construct the space in which humans interact and how this differs from, for example, a typical concrete space which is heavily shaped by human hands.
This process began with a general overview of the technology of 3D printing in construction, namely the setup of G-codes, the technology of printers, wall structures, and systems that could be employed.
By engaging with the technology of 3D printing in construction, along with the various systems, structures, and constructions, a solid foundation was established for understanding how 3D printing in construction differs from domestic 3D printing.
The next step in the research and investigation was to explore potential materials that could be used for this project.
Since the project was intended to be a temporary structure, materials like concrete were quickly ruled out. Clay was an initial thought; however, clay extraction presents its own set of challenges and would still be too permanent for this project.
Thus, attention shifted towards using simple earth as the printing material. This is a very experimental building material that, to date, has only been used by one company (WASP from Italy) in demo projects. Consequently, there was very limited factual information regarding the properties of earth as a material for 3D printing and as a building material in general, leading to various assumptions about the material properties being made. This was also feasible because information regarding the material composition is publicly available.
The material is composed of various 100% sustainable components, with topsoil being the most important material in the mixture.
Depending on the location, a soil analysis must be conducted to ensure the optimal combination of materials.
The result is a 100% sustainable, recyclable, and comparable building material to clay, with the advantage of being made from various sustainable components. It can be expected that this material can be used in even more locations than clay, further expanding its versatility and applications.
Based on the investigation of the different components of 3D-printed earth, compared with similar, in some cases historical, building materials, the following four material properties were defined:
1. AVAILABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Given that the materials are universally available, occur 100% naturally, and can be completely reintegrated into the ecosystem, the sustainability of 3D printing with earth is exceptionally high.
2. MATERIAL TREATMENT
Treatment methods for the earth and the composition of different materials vary by location. Therefore, a soil analysis must be conducted each time.
3. CONSTRUCTION
It can be assumed that 3D-printed earth does not possess the same strength as other materials but behaves similarly to clay.
4. RESILIENCE
The primary weakness of the material is its behavior when in contact with large amounts of water.
Following the material research, work on the design itself commenced. This involved experimenting with various approaches that differed in form, size, and function.
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The iteration of the different design approaches typically took place through drawings and models, with clay emerging as an effective medium for form-finding in this project.
On the left, you can see one of these early variants, which already committed to a radial printing system, evident in the form itself. This approach was also adopted in the final form.
In this variant, experimentation involved a sequence of different pavilions, which were intended to represent and make the process of creation, i.e., the printing, tangible.
Subsequent iterations tested the extremes of different versions, for example, experimenting with what a maximal design could look like using the technology of 3D printing with earth to create an entire landscape.
This project particularly encouraged viewing the various variants and design approaches as isolated experiments, in which the concept and technique of 3D printing with earth were tested against different extremes. This approach provided me with a deep understanding of what is technically, aesthetically, and qualitatively possible with this technology for the final version.