CLADkit for architects, designers, investors, developers
PRODUCT NEWS
Cement structure shows architectural potential of 3D printing
11 Mar 2015 . BY Jason Holland
Professor Ronald Rael led the Bloom project / Tom Levy
The first and largest powder-based 3D-printed cement structure has been built at a US university.
Created to demonstrate the architectural potential of 3D printing, the freestanding pavilion – Bloom – is composed of 840 customised blocks, measures roughly 12ft by 12ft, and is 9ft high.
The University of California, Berkeley research team was led by Ronald Rael, associate professor of architecture, who developed a new type of iron oxide-free Portland cement polymer formulation which enabled the 3D printing.
“We are mixing polymers with cement and fibers to produce very strong, lightweight, high-resolution parts on readily available equipment; it’s a very precise, yet frugal technique,” said Rael. “This project is the genesis of a realistic, marketable process with the potential to transform the way we think about building a structure.”
Bloom was unveiled on 6 March and closed the fifth annual Berkeley Circus, an event which celebrates the research and accomplishments of the university’s College of Environmental Design community.
It will now be disassembled and shipped to Siam Research and Innovation in Thailand. The company, a research and development division of Siam Cement Group, provided funding and collaborative support for the project, and will put the structure on display for several months, after which it will travel to various locations around the world.
Siam Cement Group provided the Portland cement, while additional support and materials were provided by Emerging Objects, a startup company co-founded by Rael and Virginia San Fratello, and Entropy Resins.
JK Wellness, the beauty, spa and wellness division of JK Group UK and Ireland, has launched a
full-body LED light therapy unit combining red light and near-infrared light technology.
Twenty-five cameras, nine servers, 70 projectors and a range of AV technologies are being
used to bring the art of Van Gogh to life in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Technogym has released Skillup, an ergometer designed to target the entire body, with a focus
on the muscle groups of the upper back, chest and arms, by simulating the actions of cross
country skiing.
Hyperice recently introduced its newest product: the Normatec Lower Legs.
COMPANY PROFILE
A 28-year old legacy of building the best quality solutions for whole-body cryotherapy is the foundation to offer our high performance cryo chambers - The Art of Cryo Vaultz®.
Art of Cryo is a new division of a renowned family business with 30 years’ experience in ultra-low temperature equipment. A 28-year old legacy of building the best quality solutions for whole-body cryotherapy is the foundation to offer our high performance cryo chambers - The Art of Cryo Vaultz®.
Cruise Ship Interiors (CSI) invites cruise lines, shipyards, design studios, outfitters,
and suppliers to take part in CSI Design Expo Americas in Miami, Florida, the region’s only
event dedicated to cruise ship interior design. [more...}
Art’otel, Radisson’s contemporary art-inspired lifestyle hotel brand, has strengthened its
presence in London with a new hotel in Hoxton fusing art, design and hospitality.
With the launch of its 49th John Reed, RSG Group is looking for more opportunities for its high-
end brand in the US and Europe, but is pausing UK expansion.
Janu – Aman’s highly-anticipated sister brand – has opened its inaugural hotel in Tokyo,
marking the first in its pipeline of 13 properties across city, country and coastal destinations.
English countryside hotel and club Estelle Manor has unveiled its new 3,000sq m Roman-
inspired bathhouse and spa following an intricate five-year project.