3D Printing Scaled Architectural Designs
- Tony Koutsonikolas
- Jul 19, 2024
- 1 min read
"Thanks to the Maple Glass team and their 3D-printing glass technology, it has made it possible for us to further explore different aesthetics characterised by layers, patterns, utilising recycled glass, and a surface amenable to 3D printing with high precision.”
This enormous glass structure, The Qaammat Pavilion was built in Greenland from handcrafted solid casted glass blocks. Konstantin, the architect behind this project came to Maple Glass Printing came to Maple Glass Printing with the vision of recreating a scaled version of this piece; with a twist.
The client for this project was client United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
The purpose of this 3D model was not to simply recreate the strucutre using 3D printing, but to explore different aesthetics through layers, patters and surface amenable that are only possible using 3D printing.
Thank you to clever design by Nitsan Bartov, a specialist in digital fabrication, the custom toolpath (.gcode) was created to control Maple Glass Printing's Glass 3D Printer. Check out Nitsan's work here.
The model was displayed as part of the 2023 Venice Glass Week. See here for the full article on this exhibit.
Scaled architectural models are still essential even in the age of digital visualization, because there’s something about holding a miniature version of a building that feels more tangible. Architects rely on precision, and 3D printing delivers exactly that. A platform like https://www.gambody.com/stock demonstrates how communities use STL files to bring digital designs to life, whether in gaming or architecture. Both cases show the power of turning concepts into physical reality. With 3D printing, even the most ambitious architectural visions can be tested and shared in a highly detailed format.