XtreeE 3D concrete printing
French company XtreeE has been using 3D printed concrete in projects since 2015. Their latest creation, completed in March 2017, is an organic truss-style support structure for a preschool playground in Aix-en-Provence.
The building itself was designed by Marc Dalibard, but XtreeE executed the final design and production of the concrete column.
The finished piece stands 4 m tall and blends seamlessly with the concrete of the preschool building.
To create the structure, XtreeE programmed an industrial robot to extrude a special mixture of concrete to form the ‘envelope’, or outer layer, of the organic structure. The hollow envelope was then filled with concrete and filed to remove the appearance of each printed layer, creating a smooth surface that calls to mind the twisted roots of a tree.
The structure was printed in segments at the XtreeE studio and then assembled on site. The printing process took over 15 hours, however, they believe that in theory, once the print program is written, it could be used to produce a large number of identical concrete supports with less workforce requirements than traditional methods.
Content and images courtesy of XtreeE.
Images © Lisa Ricciotti
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Survey reveals green skills gap.
America's economic collapse produced scores of PWA Moderne projects.
The benefits of glowing aggregates and cement.
Rising concern over construction worker wellbeing
Urgent need for open communication to address mental health issues.
New engineering alliance forms
Guidance offered on COVID-19 green recovery, building safety and more.
Providing strength and support above the joists.
Construction Products Regulator
Enforcer will test and investigate product safety.
London landmark receives a high tech upgrade
Underfloor air conditioning comes to 24 St James's Square.
Consultation on public right to buy unused public property.
Guidance for listed building alterations
IHBC resource offers improved consistency.
New laws to ‘retain and explain’ historic statues.
The principles and art of the possible. Book review.