Dezeen reports on yet another pavilion getting 3D printed in Saudi Arabia. Only this time, it was created using sand.
This “sustainable sand-printed installation called Sandwaves” is located in Diryah, Saudi Arabia specifically and was created by architects Chris Precht and Arthur Mamou-Mani.
“The ribbon-like structure is 3D printed from sand and furan resin for use as street furniture at Diryah Season – a sports and entertainment event in the Al-Turaif District.”
The architects chose sand due to the fact “it is the most abundant natural material in the country, and it also responds to local building traditions.” With this 3D printed art installation, the pair of architects “hope to demonstrate the kind of innovation needed for our time in the building industry, and how nature and technology can work harmoniously together.”
As Mamou-Mani elaborates: “we both believe in the cradle-to-cradle approach to design, using materials which can go back to their natural state, leaving no trace.” To Precht, “building in an ecological way also means to build with local materials.” Mamou-Mani concludes: “we asked ourselves what is the most common raw material around, so sand came naturally to our minds.”
Sandwaves, which comprises “58 individual 3D printed elements which combine to form the continuous ribbon,” is the “largest sand-printed installation to date.” The architects collaborated with engineers at Format, “who used parametric design tools to generate the optimum shape and thickness of each piece.”
Image and Quotes Courtesy of Dezeen
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