Additive Manufacturing (AM), or 3D Printing, offers a variety of technological perspectives that will influence all aspects of building construction in the future: materiality, structure, detailing, thermal envelope, building climate. Among many aspects, AM allows to completely redesign building elements, embedding new material solutions with advanced functionality.

The design task of the studio project is to design a mixed-use residential building for flexible use in a vacant lot next to the famous Altes Hallenbad in the central Heidelberg, combining passive design strategies with the specific Additive Manufacturing Technology - Selective Paste Intrusion (SPI). By understanding the SPI technology features, such as resolution and granularity, mechanical properties, building physics usability, geometric freedoms, as well as process constraints, we will explore and creatively investigate its possibilities to use these properties as a design driver for designing a sustainable, and resource efficient building. These features can range from energy-efficient elements, such as optimised thermal insulation, to intelligent systems that enhance occupant comfort and sustainability.

In a first phase, students will focus on a given research topic, working in groups of 3 persons. The aim is to allow the students to deepen one given aspect which will be of relevance in the design task.  In a second phase, as the students are mixed into new groups of 3 integrating different knowledge from the previous phase, the teams are to develop design concepts integrating architectural design, climate strategies and SPI technology into one concept - by focusing on SPI-only or SPI-timber hybrid constructions. The third design phase further deepens on the development of the design principles, the construction principles of prefabricated SPI building blocks or hybrid SPI-timber elements and the overall design of the building. The design proposal should be developed that find a balance between durability, material justice, resource conservation, and flexible, spatial playability, and that take up the need for sustainability in various facets.

Excursion:

24.10.2024 - 25.10.2024
day one: departure from Munich to Heidelberg, visit to the building site (Altes Hallenbad), input presentation from SSV Architekten; visit to the example buildings of Betriebswerk and Rossmanith from AAg Architekten; overnight stay in Heidelberg;
day two: departure from Heidelberg to Regensburg, visit to the industry partner Additive Tectonics, input about Selective Paste Intrusion(SPI) technology.

Teaching team:

Professorship of Digital Fabrication
Prof. Dr. Kathrin Dörfler , Iuliia Larikova, M.A. 

Chair of Building Technology and Climate Responsive Design
Prof. Thomas Auer , Dr. Sandra Persiani, David Briels, M.sc.

Industry Partners:

SSV Architekten, Additive Tectonics