This 3D printed urban reef is constructed from mycelium to increase biodiversity in cities!

Mycelium is a natural material taking over the sustainable design world one industry at a time! A Netherlands-based company is hopping on that train – they are experimenting with mycelium and computational design to create a series of 3D-printed urban reefs that will stimulate water circularity and biodiversity. In simpler terms, your concrete jungle where dreams are made of will be more jungle and less concrete so more living organisms can thrive!

Dutch designer duo Pierre Oskam and Max Latour came up with this innovative solution to make cities more biodiverse. It involves using natural materials to create structural ecosystems that can be integrated within existing environmental elements (eg. fountains). A 3D printer is used to create complex geometrical designs with porous materials like ceramics and composites (made from coffee grounds and mycelium). The moisture in the air is able to pass through and create the perfect environment for various fungi to grow thus bringing the structures to life!

“The most feasible option we are working with is ceramics, but since baking it requires a lot of energy we are investigating more sustainable alternatives,” says Latour. The studio is also experimenting with materials made from coffee and algae. At present, the team has developed two concept products as a result of their research, first in the form of the “Rain Reef” rain collector with an undulating shape that increases the contact area of the water and the potential hatching surface for vegetation.

“It is 3D printed with a porous material (made from a mixture of seeds, coffee grounds and mycelium), which can get saturated with the collected rainwater, making it accessible to vegetation growing on the outside,” explains Latour. “The intention is to develop a printable material which is porous, durable, sustainable and bio-receptive.”

The second product is the “Zoo Reef”, which Urban Reef intends as a substitute for fountains in cities. “There is a lot of potential for biodiversity stimulation around urban fountains,” says Oskam. “We propose a complex labyrinth of spaces which are all interconnected. By differentiation in sizes, orientation regarding sun, wind and rain, varieties of microclimates would develop.”

“Rather than determining top-down which organisms should live where, a range of potential habitats is generated.” They might be early in the research and development phase but Latour and Oskam’s Urban Reef project could have real-world applicators in the future. As an idea, it’s not so dissimilar from a living wall, except in this case the choice of materials and the structural design promotes their integration within cities without human intervention.

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“At Urban Reef we consider the city as a potential habitat to organisms, not exclusively humans,” the duo explains. “We position ourselves as human within the natural environment deviating from the modernist view of the human transcending nature. From that perspective, we aim to gain a profound knowledge of natural processes to both integrate those in our design methods as well as design with ecologies in mind.”

Designer: Pierre Oskam and Max Latour

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World’s first 3D-printed stainless steel bridge links Amsterdam’s past and future in its red-light district!

Amsterdam is known for its calm canals and winding alleyways, its rich cultural history, and its affinity for all kinds of pleasure. Historical landmarks still charm tourists and residents alike between the city’s canals, while contemporary and sustainable architecture put the burgeoning Amsterdam-Noord borough back on the map. Linking Amsterdam’s past with its future, designers and engineers at MX3D and Joris Laarman Lab developed the world’s first 3D printed bridge over one of Amsterdam’s oldest canals in De Wallen, the city’s red-light district.

MX3D and Joris Laarman Lab collaborated with global engineering firm Arup along with a host of designers and 3D-print teams to develop the robot-welded bridge. Welding traditional steelwork with computational design, the stainless steel bridge symbolizes a linking of Amsterdam’s past with its future. Stretching just over twelve meters in length, MX3D equipped simple, technical robots with purpose-built tools that were controlled by integrated software that the team of designers developed over the span of two years.

Arup, the project’s lead structural engineer, practiced ​​advanced parametric design modeling to streamline the bridge’s preliminary design process. Describing the developmental stages and inspiration behind building the bridge, MX3D notes, “The unique approach allows us to 3D print strong, complex and graceful structures out of metal. The goal of the MX3D Bridge project is to showcase the potential applications of our multi-axis 3D printing technology.”

Currently open to the public, the bridge was unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. Ushering in a strengthened bond between the possibilities of modern technology and a reverence for the city’s architectural integrity, the new bridge in Amsterdam’s red-light district stands as a link between the past and the future.

Designers: MX3D, Joris Laarman Lab, & Arup

Using advanced parametric design modeling to streamline the bridge’s initial design process, engineers programmed software to control the 3D printer’s construction and direction.

Amsterdam’s 3D printed bridge merges classical architecture with modern technology.

Constructed offsite, the bridge was transported on a boat to its final destination.

Weaving through Amsterdam’s canals, the bridge was ultimately brought to its final destination in the red-light district.

Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands unveiled the project’s debut in ode to Amsterdam’s rich cultural history.

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This museum-inspired bicycle garage pushes the boundaries of urban mobility!

Netherlands’ largest bicycle parking garage has been built in the Hague right in front of the Central Station. This facility is constructed beneath the Koningin Julianaplein and turns the mundane task of parking your bike into a short, memorable experience. Studio Marsman and Silo came together to design a spatial concept that gives you a museum-like experience within a bicycle parking garage. This unconventional creative idea has not only enhanced the comfort and safety of the thousands of daily users, but it has also turned into an attraction in Hague!

With white ceilings, smart directional markings, spacious aisles, and back-lit glass walls, the design for this garage radiates modern aesthetics and a ‘clean’ feeling that is not usually associated with something underground (think New York subway stations!). The garage is large enough to provide a safe space for about 8,000 bicycles and rental bikes within a secure environment. Silo is a creative studio that is known for its out-of-the-box branding, digital, and spatial design, and that combined with Studio Marsman’s strengths makes this project an iconic symbol in Hague’s urban mobility network. “The integrated application of light and spatial identity makes the facility appear more spacious,” explains Rene Stoneman, Creative Director at Silo. “Moreover, the visual interventions support the intuitive orientation, making it easier to find back your bike at the end of the day.”

The most gaze-worthy interior design feature in this garage is the Escher-inspired light wall that encloses the parking facility. The past, present, and future architecture of the Hague forms the basis for one continuous image that comprises façade elements of the city’s buildings. Cyclists experience the city’s skyline in one smooth movement as they move across the space. The exits of the parking garage will be integrated with the above-ground development, which includes residential towers, commercial spaces, and a public square to ensure efficient movement from the first step to the last. The project aims to create a service-oriented facility with a future-proof design that not only makes it easier for the commuter to find his bike but also turns it into a pleasant experience. Did you ever think your public parking garage could basically be an art museum? 2020 continues to surprise us all!

Designers: Studio Marsman and Silo

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