3D Printed Pavilion in Mexico Combines Craftsmanship and Sustainability

MEXTRÓPOLI is the largest Architecture and City Festival in the Americas, based in Mexico City. More than 80,000 people gathered at the 2022 edition to generate knowledge, exchange and a new vision of the city through architecture. One of the projects presented at the event is particularly exciting: it has resorted to additive manufacturing as a production method. Created in Mexico, this 3D printed pavilion was born with the aim of combining 3 ideas: new technologies, craftsmanship and recycling. The project was carried out thanks to the collaboration between an engineering team from Digital Structures MIT, the international organization New Story dedicated to ending homelessness in the world, and Échale, a Mexican social enterprise that offers housing solutions through the integral development of communities.

This and many other projects are highlighting the growth of additive manufacturing. Specifically, the use of the technology in architecture is booming thanks to the benefits it offers, and numerous examples include a 3D printed metal bridge now in use in Amsterdam. Let us now look at the characteristics of this project and the combination with other key aspects today.

Credits: Dinorah Schulte / Arturo Arrieta

The Pavilion 3D Printing Process

Called “Dreams with Fiber/Timber, Earth/Concrete,”” the pavilion consists of a 3D printed structure that recognizes Mexico City’s rich history. According to those in charge of the project, “the design imagines new possibilities through a critical adaptation of traditional paper craftsmanship, the creative reuse of recycled wood, and the innovative use of earth and concrete.” The use of additive manufacturing in this architectural project aims to explore the future of affordable housing in the country. It also seeks to minimize the environmental impact of traditional construction methods.