3D Printing Meets Tradition: A Look at the Bauhaus University Weimar

3D printing is already finding numerous applications in traditionally craft-based and artistic fields. At the intersection of design, technology, and innovation, it is playing an increasingly important role in creative disciplines, including, of course, higher education of those disciplines. The Bauhaus University Weimar, with its long-standing tradition of uniting art, design, architecture, and engineering, offers an ideal environment for exploring and advancing the potential of this technology. Students and researchers use 3D printing not only in design practice but also to develop new materials, sustainable building methods, and interdisciplinary projects. We spoke with professors and lecturers from various research areas at Bauhaus University Weimar, who showed us how additive manufacturing can be applied within such a historic academic institution. From creative discussions about design philosophies to practical applications in construction and materials science, this article offers a glimpse into the university and the possibilities of 3D printing technologies.

The founding of the historical Bauhaus took place during a time of major social and political change, with the aim of harnessing the potential of rapid industrialization. A strong affinity for technology and the integration of artistic and technical innovation have always been part of the Bauhaus tradition. In this article, you will gain a contemporary look at the work being done at Bauhaus University Weimar. Faculty members from Architecture and the Built Environment as well as Art and Design share their expertise and show how 3D printing is shaping their teaching and research.

Junior Professor Dr.-Ing. Luise Göbel leads the ‘NanoMatFuture’ research group for the project StimuCrete, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) (Credit: Bauhaus University Weimar).

Materials Mechanics, Design Theory, and Design Research

The university is internationally recognized for its distinctive design education, but disciplines such as architecture and materials science also play an important role in Weimar. Junior Professor Dr.-Ing. Luise Göbel, who holds the chair in Materials Mechanics, focuses on sustainable and digital building practices. She has been working with 3D printing for nearly a decade, and since then the technology has remained a constant focus of her work. According to Prof. Göbel, 3D printing holds significant potential for innovation in the construction industry, as well as strong scientific relevance within her field. She describes its impact as having “enormous resonance in the scientific community,” and it has long been a core part of her own research. She highlights in particular its ability to produce quick demonstrations, custom components, and prototypes: “[With 3D printing] we can also test geometries that we later want to implement using large-scale concrete printers (…). In that sense, its influence on work processes is truly substantial.”