Over the past decade, the relationship between technology and process has dramatically reversed.Usually used to make small objects, figurines and prototypes, 3D printing is now used to build affordable housing in the construction industry.Artists and artisans across the creative field are embracing digital tools as a new medium for human expression.
EDG, an architecture and engineering firm based in New York, has come up with a cost-effective way to make modern decorations, a new form of digital sculpture whose key is 3D printing.
Modern 3d scanning and rendering software (such as 3DSMax and Rhino) and algorithmic modeling programs can easily recreate almost anything.The EDG then selects the right materials and 3D printing technology to make plastic molds that will be used to make copies of architectural decorations.The team began using a small makerbotreenlightenment z18 prototype design.
"We are focused on the economical hollow plastic mold. Through detailed experiments, we find the perfect balance of material cost, efficiency and strength to ensure that the mold can be easily copied.""The company said.
The 3D printed plastic mold is inlaid with laser-cut screen for enhancement.The final prototype was made by VoxelJet using a VoxelJetVX10003D printer for casting molds and building them indoors with concrete.
It is reported that these decorations can be produced in one day.In addition, architects can easily reprint molds using stored part digital catalogs."If an element needs to be repaired or replaced, it can be simply removed from the building and re-printed on the same day and re-created in the field."
The company was inspired by the demolition of 574 fifth avenue, a 1940 building with complex decorations that was dismantled because of the high cost of restoration.As EDG said, "with the means of the existing classical style of decoration, the facade is still unlikely to occur if it is not a lost art, construction manual sculpture is a kind of high luxury, laser cutting is still too expensive, the creative limits and precast concrete."
Through their construction methods, the decoration can be designed and incorporated into the facade without exceeding the budget.JohnMeyer, founding and managing partner of EDG, said: "the project began with the simple goal of finding ways to save and restore the deteriorating architectural treasures of New York City and around the world."The jewel of natural beauty and rich history is disappearing, because their repair costs become too high, to recognize the loss - like Pennsylvania station, until after the occurrence of these losses will be fully implemented, we set out to create the economical reconstruction and repair methods, realized this, and we soon realized, the convenience and accessibility of this construction method for the creation of the building facade brings the potential of the real seismic shift, we draw inspiration from the classical style, details into a modern and new.
This process will not only bring the forgotten hand into the modern age, but will democratize the design process, enabling practitioners from different fields to perform previously unimaginable tasks.
EDG is building a custom 3D printer for their future projects, including a multi-family project in Greenpoint, brooklyn.