We had a deep conversation with Philippe Block, professor and head of the Institute of Technology in Architecture (ITA) at ETH Zurich. He also co-leads the Block Research Group (BRG) with Dr. Tom Van Mele, which focuses on innovation, computational design, 3D printing, fabrication, and construction of sustainable structures and minimizing construction waste. During our conversation, we talked about BRG, the future of computational design, 3D fabrication, engineering, and teaching methodologies.
BRG completed the construction of a 3D-printed bridge named Striatus 2.0: Phoenix in partnership with Zaha Hadid Architects Computation and Design Group (ZHACODE), incremental3D (in3D), and Holcim in the year 2023. In 2022, the research team created Knitnervi, a pavilion-scale demonstration of a flexible formwork system used for building a ribbed concrete shell. This system comprises a bending-active grid shell, utilized as falsework and reinforcement, enclosed by a CNC-knitted shuttering.
Selected projects
Striatus
Striatus, created by the Block Research Group (BRG) at ETH Zurich and Zaha Hadid Architects Computation and Design Group (ZHACODE) in partnership with incremental3D (in3D) and supported by Holcim, is an arched footbridge made of 3D-printed concrete blocks that doesn’t require mortar for assembly. It was featured at the Giardini della Marinaressa during the Venice Architecture Biennale until November 2021.
Unlike traditional horizontal layer 3D printing, Striatus uses a two-component (2K) concrete ink and corresponding printing head and pumping arrangement to print non-uniform and non-parallel layers with precision, using a 6-axis, multi-DOF robotic arm.
NEST HiLo Roof
The NEST HiLo Roof features a doubly-curved concrete roof constructed using a cable net and fabric flexible formwork. The project utilized an integrated design-engineering-fabrication-construction process enabled by the open-source computational framework COMPAS.
The flexible formwork for the HiLo roof structure is based on a mostly reusable kit-of-parts. It utilizes a cable net as the primary structure, comprising individually cut cable segments connected at custom-designed nodes and tensioned within a wooden boundary frame. A thin fabric membrane is then stretched over the cable net and connected to the nodes, creating a taut surface for casting or spraying concrete.
KnitNervi
Knitnervi is a pavilion-scale demonstration of a ribbed concrete shell constructed with a flexible formwork system. A bending-active grid shell serves as falsework and reinforcement and is encased by CNC-knitted shuttering. Knitnervi project by the Block Research Group (BRG) at ETH Zurich and Dr. Mariana Popescu from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences at Delft University of Technology, constructed for the exhibition “Technoscape: The architecture of engineers” at the MAXXI National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome, Italy, 2022.
KnitNervi is inspired by Pier Luigi Nervi’s innovative Palazzetto dello Sport and reimagines ribbed, thin-shell, reinforced-concrete construction. The project proposes a construction system that eliminates the need for complex, wasteful molds, departing from the prefabrication and standardization paradigms that enable expressive and efficient concrete shells.
Hosted by Hamid Hassanzadeh, founder and creative director of PA, the PA Talks interview series brings together the brightest minds in architecture and design. These captivating conversations explore these individuals’ lives, careers, and visions for the future.
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