ETH Zurich Has Unveiled a 3D Printed Concrete Ceiling

Teams from ETH Zurich have revealed yet another project involving additive manufacturing. This time it is a ceiling designed in part using 3D printing, called HiRes Concrete Slab. Installed last fall in Switzerland in the NEST research building of the ETH, it was made from 3D printed molds and used 70% less material compared to traditional methods. The slab has a curved shape, reminiscent of the structure of tree leaves. A rather complex design that would have been much more difficult to obtain in any way other than through 3D printing.

In the architectural sector, 3D printing is used in a variety of ways: whether to design parts directly, prototypes or even molds as in this case. Thanks to its design freedom, it offers more opportunities to designers and architects. Here, ETH Zurich wanted to use a more energy-efficient and less material-intensive manufacturing method with a unique design. As we know, concrete is still very harmful to our environment and in traditional construction, a lot is consumed.

Photo Credits: Andrei Jipa

Additive manufacturing seems like an ideal candidate. Instead of using a 3D concrete printer that could have deposited layer after layer of material to create the ceiling, the teams opted for polymer technology to create 43 molds. They then poured the concrete into them. The resulting pieces were only 5 cm thick. The advantage of this method is the possibility of adding construction elements such as ventilation, heating or cooling systems. In fact, the teams claim to have 3D printed four custom-made plastic ventilation ducts before the concrete was poured.