A Cool Breeze
3D Print with Salt
2. Semester / MA
Chair of Building Construction and Building Materials
The project focuses on salt, which is a byproduct of desalination plants and potassium mining, and its great potential in architecture using 3D printing technology. The goal was to develop a salt-clay mixture with various additives to serve as the foundation for a 3D-printed pavilion. This pavilion is located outside the gates of the Siwa Oasis in Egypt. The Siwa Oasis was built with a building material called Karshif, which is approximately 200 years old and consists of 95% salt. The design was subsequently 3D printed at a scale of 1:20.
During an intensive week, the correct mixing ratio was tested. The maximum achieved ratio was 60% salt to 40% clay. Other mixtures resulted in minor or major complications during the printing process.
The printing process can be manually assisted by, for example, setting up temporary supports, using a heat lamp to accelerate the drying process, or stretching a mesh on the print bed to improve adhesion.
Proper preparation of the Cura file is crucial for the success of the print. It is important to find a good compromise between speed/extrusion and the desired result of the print.
The design concept involves extruding profiles with functions along curves. These profiles intersect at two points, providing the necessary stability. The profiles create shading for the spaces that form between the curves. The smaller space serves as an entrance area, being darker and having a small skylight. The larger space invites people to stay, with seating options, a palm tree, and two exits in both directions.