Towards earthen structures as artefacts of resilience

Comparable with rammed-earth construction, though free of rigid forms, it’s possible to 3D-print a 3m earthen wall in one day. Successful 3D-printing with earth + biomaterials is dependent on the sophisticated calibration of inputs which influence the behaviour and ‘green-strength’ of the clay- based material.

Pozzolanic binders (additives) made available as by-products of the sustainable energy sector–such as biochar or bottom ash from Waste-to-Energy processing, or as biopolymer binders, such as alginate salts derived from seaweed–determine the extruded material’s green-strength during printing and when having cured, desirable high compressive strength with minimal shrinkage.

PhD practice

place-made structures

Mia Mia Ngamar, 2022–WIP [ 3d–Printed local earth + water harvest ]

Nowanup Heart Elder Dwellings, 2022 [ 3d–Printed local earth + water harvest ]

Nowanup System, 2021 [ 3d–Printed local earth + ecological systems]

regenerative systems

Beatty Park Stadium Regen., 2020 [ integrating CEA food / waste / energy ]

Urban Food–Waste–Energy System, 2020 [ Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) plants + insect ]

Exhibition

Storied Earth, 2023–WIP [ old ways together with new ways, making places to connect people + nature ]

+ Generative AI

[ a tool for community engagement + co-design ]

Structures [ resilient settlements; fire/smoke; flood/drought ]

Spaces [ 3D-Printed earth + biomaterials ]

Systems [ integrating CEA food \ waste \ energy ]

Leading centres for R&D at architectural scale

🇪🇸 Barcelona, Spain, IAAC + Valldaura Labs, Master Programs in natural building technologies

🇮🇹 Massa Lombarda RA, Italy, WASP – Gaia (2018) / Tecla (2021) world's first \ world’s first load-bearing 3D-printed earthen structures

🇺🇸 San Luis Valley, CO, USA, Emerging Objects’ Mud Frontiers Hearth, Beacon, Lookout, Kiln (2019) / Muddy Robots – world’s first load-bearing 3D-printed earthen vault (2023)