World’s First 3D Printed Skatepark to Be Unveiled at Paris Olympics

As the Paris Olympic Games draw near, the city is witnessing an exciting development. Starting on July 18, a 400m² skatepark created using 3D concrete printing will be open to the public near the Bassin de Takis in La Défense. This pioneering project is the brainchild of the French company Saint-Gobain and its subsidiary Weber, which specializes in flooring products and systems. The skatepark, comprised of 19 modules including single and inclined benches, two quarter-pipes, three rails, a volcano, and a double volcano, marks a significant advancement in the application of 3D printing for large-scale structures.

The modules for this skatepark were manufactured at one of Saint-Gobain’s factories in the Eindhoven industrial zone in the Netherlands. There, a multi-meter-high machine was used to produce the concrete 3D prints. This process offers great design freedom, allowing for the creation of unique and complex structures that are perfectly suited to the needs of skateboarders.

A 3D Printed Skatepark in Paris

While 3D printing is often associated with the manufacture of smaller objects, this installation demonstrates its applicability to large-scale concrete constructions. The new skatepark at La Défense will consist of several separate modules rather than a single massive block. This construction technique has been employed in Weber’s previous innovative projects, such as the 29-meter bridge 3D printed two years ago in the Netherlands, which is now used daily by pedestrians and cyclists. 3D printing in concrete offers ecological benefits by reducing the carbon footprint of construction.