World's Tallest 3D-Printed Building is Designed to be Disassembled and Moved
Posted in: UncategorizedSwiss architecture firm Digital Building Technologies has designed a 3D-printed building that can be taken apart, moved, and reassembled.
When it’s erected later this year, Tor Alva (“White Tower”) will be the world’s tallest 3D-printed building at 30m (98′) tall. Designed as a performance space, it’s to be sited in an unlikely location: The remote Swiss mountain village of Mulegns, population just 26 people. (The structure is being funded by Nova Fundaziun Origen, a Swiss charity involved in education, scientific research, the arts and culture. The location of the structure was chosen to draw tourism to Mulegns, which badly needs bodies.)
The tower, which was designed to resemble the confections the region was once known for, consists of 32 concrete columns 3D-printed by robot arms.
“The concrete is only applied where it is structurally needed, thereby massively reducing material consumption. The elimination of formwork results in new design freedom in terms of expressive shapes, surface details and the efficient production of unique pieces.”
“Integrating the concepts of circular building, the tower, planned as a five-year installation, will be designed so that it can be easily dismantled and reassembled at another location.”
I was primarily interested in what type of foundation is required, and how precisely the structure is attached and de-attached to the foundation; sadly those technical details have not been revealed.
The video below provides a better look at the tower, and you’ll note the design is different than what’s in the photos above; in the video, the tower sits rather clunkily atop a block-like structure.
Tor Alva is scheduled to go up this summer.
Post a Comment