Digital Metal: Deep Facade

Deep Facade explores the unique potential of 3D printing sand mould and casting metal for architecture. We combine these two fabrication methods to make the production of custom and complex structural metal parts possible and affordable.

Students developed custom design tools to generate an algorithmic ornamental structure. The design of this structure plays with varying transparencies depending on the point of view and a graded filter of daylight, while integrating structural and fabrication constraints. The installation consists of 26 bespoke panels which are three dimensionally articulated and assembled to a 3.5m high wall – a deep facade. 

Deep Facade, facade view of the complete assemly with a shadow of someone passing behind it
one peace of the facade, before assembly
BinderJet printer process to build the cast moldes for this project
process of casting metalic piece
close up of a metalic piece from a the facade, showing the qualities of the material, and the organic geometry

Digital Building Technologies
Prof. Benjamin Dillenburger

Teaching Team: Mania Aghaei Meibodi (course lead), Mario Rinke, Marirena Kladeftira, Thodoris Kyttas

Special thanks to our sponsors and partners: Christenguss AG, DGS Druckguss-Systeme AG, ExOne Gmbh

Photo credits: Jetana “Jet” Ruangjun (all images), Yao Wang (Right down)

© Digital Building Technologies | Gramazio Kohler Research |  ETH Zurich

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