Technology | 3D Printed Soil by IAAC’s “Pylos” Project

3D printing’s usefulness for architecture is being tested by researchers with the Institute for Advanced Architecture in Catalonia. Pylos, is a larger-scale printing project that shapes common soil. IAAC states that the printer could have a future with construction, using natural, biodegradable, and locally found material. It works within the confines of “economic and environmental crisis.”

The researchers state of the project:

This material can not be other than soil. The project focuses on the natural properties of soil. Earth, or Soil, as a construction material has been used since Neolithic times. The advantages of an earth – soil structure are primarily related to both the environment and economy, being secure and friendly to our environment. Soil also offers the benefits of natural insulation, fire protection, air circulation,  low first cost, 100% recyclable structures, stiffness, great strength, thermal flywheel effect, low greenhouse emissions, regulating the climate and providing a healthy Indoor environment.

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In a moment in which there is a boom in global population growth and urbanization, with a high percentage of this population living in low quality housing conditions, it becomes imperative to push for affordable architecture and housing: low cost quality solutions for developed and developing countries. Pylos has proven significant possibilities in terms of design variations, ensuring a sound structural quality, low energy consumption, and undeniable affordability (0.50€/kg). This project provides sustainable, low-cost, large scale solutions for the architectural scale through the digitalization and advancements of vernacular architecture and traditional techniques, creating a new vision for the future of the construction sector, architecture and the city.

Sofoklis Giannakopoulos and Areti Markopoulou were the lead researcher and research advisor, respectively. Alexandre Dubor acted as the expert on robotics and Rodrigo Aguirre was the computational expert.

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