INTRODUCTION

The Postgraduate in 3D Printing Architecture is a 6-month long intensive programme in the field of additive manufacturing of sustainable architecture. Between the use of advanced technology for construction and the desire to develop a holistic design approach to architecture, we engage with different areas of research that include robotic manufacturing, material research and performance-based design. The programme seeks to develop technological and architectural solutions in collaboration with Industry partners to answer the current needs and challenges of our habitat. 

The 3rd Application Period for the academic year 2024/25 is now open until the 30th of April 2024!

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The Postgraduate in 3D Printing Architecture is a programme of applied research. Rather than imagining an architecture for a long-term future, our aim is to apply state of the art technology to today’s construction paradigm. It is axed around the continuity of the development of a body of research long explored in the Institute together with our industry partners.

The course runs as a partially collective programme with a mixed group of researchers of IAAC’s Master second years and other specialised students with interest in 3d printing, in eco-friendly material research or in the field of housing. The course is structured in 3 phases: Learn, a series of exercises to gain knowledge into the topic followed by Explore, an explorative phase through research and finally Demonstrate, a divided into Project Studio: a design competition and conceptual planning followed by a Large Scale Prototype construction: the construction of a 1:1 prototype that challenges the use of earthen architecture fragments in the built environment.

3DPA
Degree Postgraduate Diploma in 3D Printing Architecture by University of Lleida (UdL) – European Higher Education Area (EHEA)
Edition 12th edition
Credits 45 ECTS
Duration 6 months – September 2024 to February 2025 – Full Time
Language English
Tuition Fee Non-EU: 11.925€
EU: 9.900€
Spanish: 5.963€
20% discount if you have a Ph.D. in related research fields
Admissions Higher Education Degree Equivalent (Masters degree) in Engineering, Design, Architecture or other related professions. Ph.D. candidates in applied research fields. Applicants who are not in possession of a Masters degree should demonstrate experience in the fields outlined below:
Additional
Eligibility Criteria
– Experience in 3D modeling (RhinocerosⓇ or equivalent) and Computational Design ( Grasshopper 3D or equivalent)
– Design for Construction, ideally with experience in the construction industry & building site.
– Experienced in Digital Fabrication, ideally in Laser Cutting, 3D printing (FDM) and CNC Milling.
Expected programme
related expenses
– Optional 3 weeks Stay in Valldaura Labs at the beginning of the course, cost up to 600 euros (inclu. accommodation and meals)
– Material expenses for the collective large scale prototype is covered by IAAC. Material expenses for individual and small group work is to be covered by the students, ranging from 50 to 200 € per month depending on the student’s project.
– Transportation costs to IAAC Campus in Barcelona and Valldaura and other services not mentioned are not included are covered by students.
– For more information on living expenses in Barcelona check IAAC´s website FAQ section.

*Based on academic year 2023-2024.

ACADEMIC STRUCTURE

The programme is divided into three phases:

Phase 1 – Learn:
TECHNE – Craftsmanship and Technology
An experimental and hands-on approach to Additive Manufacturing with robots. Eco-friendly material printing resides in the control of robotic technology and the mastering of its complex materiality.
This 6 weeks long phase emphasises on the development of knowledge at the intersection of craftsmanship and technology in the topics of matter, machine, structure and the built environment through detail, fragments and architecture. This phase sees the students work in small groups in short intense exercises and experiments.

Phase 2 – Explore:
RESEARCH – Building Performance
Research refers to the systematic method consisting of enunciating a problem, formulating a hypothesis, collecting facts and data, analysing the facts and reaching certain conclusions either in the form of solution(s) towards the concerned problem, or in certain generalisations for a theoretical formulation.
The second phase is an 8 weeks exploratory studio through Research in building performance on the topics of Geometry, Rigidity, Fibre reinforcements, optimizations and supports*.
*Areas of Research are subject to change from one year to another.


Phase 3 – Demonstrate:
VISION and CONSTRUCTION – Architectural Scale Construction and Design
3D printing, a digital technology, challenges a conventional design approach and requires the elaboration of new strategies partially based on the use of computation. We develop a performance-based approach to design for 3D printed architectural solutions. Within the realms of a design project for a complex humanitarian situation, the design of buildings is the result of a complex negotiation between fulfilling climatic, structural, manufacturing and habitation purposes.
The third phase starts with a collective design competition in which the group capitalises on all the learning of phase 2 in order to develop a design proposal for a 1:1 prototype as a building fragment. The third phase concludes with the group engaging with the construction of a large prototype at 1:1 architectural scale. In parallel, the group will build an architectural design Vision, while documenting and compiling the research into a collective thesis printed document.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Each participant will get intensive experience in large-scale 3D printing and gain the necessary knowledge that accompanies it:

  • Digital Fabrication: Robotic Fabrication, 3D printers, Extrusion technologies, Sensors
  • Digital tools: 3D modelling, parametric modelling, digital simulation, production of g-code.
  • Material research: empirical and scientific methodology in development and testing of new materials.
  • Design methodology to provide architectural and constructive solutions for additive manufacturing.by relating design to performance.
  • Holistic strategy to provide architectural solutions that consider all aspects of construction: material, energy, economy, manufacturing, policies, users, design, climate, structure.
PARTNERS AND COLLABORATORS

In past editions, the 3DPA programme has been the ground for collaborations with industrial partners such as the leading company in 3d printing WASP, structural engineers SOCOTEC, the Colette scholarship and the Living Prototypes Research Innovation and ceramist expert Ceràmica Cumella. We have also been working with UN Habitat program on the development of architectural solutions for humanitarian situations and together with LaSalle, SmartCitizen and Scuares as a consultant in architectural visualisation.

STUDENT PROFILE

The Postgraduate in 3D Printing Architecture is aimed at architects, engineers, designers, material engineers, mechanical engineers. The course aims to specialise these people to address a new reality in construction, architecture, and the fields that relate to it, in which new technologies will largely affect the way we think and build.

After completing the Postgraduate in 3D Printing Architecture, the students will be apt to work within the fields of architecture and engineering providing expertise and knowledge in topics such as robotic construction, additive manufacturing, parametric design. They are also encouraged and apt to further their career within the realm of non-governmental organisations that develop housing projects in problematic humanitarian situations.

Once successfully finished, IAAC students will then join the IAAC Alumni Community, an active and dynamic network of visionary professionals spread around the world, promoting principles and applications of Advanced Architecture and exploring new academic and research initiatives, leading to award-winning practices or working for internationally acclaimed firms and institutions.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Before reading the project proposal of the Scholarship Competition 2019 for the Open Thesis Fabrication (OTF) programme, please read the general requirements and main guidelines to be followed in order to make sure that you are an eligible candidate to participate: iaac.net/scholarships

 

PROJECT PROPOSAL: “WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR A 3D PRINTED ARCHITECTURE?”

It is now commonly acknowledged that 3d printing is a technology that will dominate the construction industry in the coming years. While technology is in constant development it seems that the form of the architecture that will emerge is still undefined.

The Open Thesis Fabrication focuses on the use of natural materials and additive manufacturing in architecture and attempts to invent new built forms for this new realm. The launch of this call for a full scholarship takes the form of a question to which you are asked to provide your own answer.  For the OTF Scholarship Competition, we invite participants to answer the following question: What is your vision for a 3D printed architecture?

 

Required material

  1. Submit a single A4 sheet that can contain any type of information (text, drawings, sketches, renderings, diagrams, references…) with the aim of answering the question posed for the competition.


To apply the candidates should fill up the Scholarship Application Form at this link and upload their projects in there.

 

COMPETITION DEADLINES

Start and end dates to be released soon.

PAST PROJECTS

TOVA: 3D printed prototype using earth

IAAC designs and constructs Spain’s first 3D printed building using earth and Crane WASP.

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Building Architecture Continuity

The 2019 Open Thesis Fabrication (OTF) research aims at achieving a sustainable and structurally stable construction system using km-0 robotic additive manufacturing. Building Architecture Continuity employs…

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Digital Adobe

Digital Adobe is an innovative research agenda oriented to producing architectural solutions with natural materials and additive manufacturing or 3d printing. The technology, developed in…

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TerraPerforma

TerraPerforma - 3D Printed Performative Wall The project TerraPerforma focuses on large scale 3D printing, the influence of additive manufacturing on building with a traditional material…

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Digital Urban Orchard – OTF 2015/16

Digital Urban Orchard is a research project of the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, realized as part of the Open Thesis Fabrication 2015/16. The pavilion is the prototype of…

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Fusta Robòtica

Fusta Robòtica is a research project realized as part of the Open Thesis Fabrication 2015. IaaC OTF 2015 Fusta Robòtica is an experimental project that…

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MINIBUILDERS

The Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), based in Barcelona, has, for some time now, been exploring and investigating the potentials of additive manufacturing…

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FACULTY

Directors:
Edouard Cabay
Alexandre Dubor

Coordinator:

Yara Tayoun

Internal Faculty:

Ashkan Foroughi, 3DPA Computation Expert

Oriol Carrasco , 3DPA Fabrication Expert

Elisabetta Carnavale, 3DPA Material Expert

Guillem Baraut, 3DPA Structural Expert

Gloria Font, 3DPA Climat Expert

Josep Alcover, 3DPA Visualisation Expert

Faculty Assistants:

Secil Afsar, 3DPA Fabrication Assistant

Aslinur Taskin, 3DPA Fabrication Support

Collaborators:

Colette, Philanthropic organisation

3D WASP, Large Scale 3D printing

UN-Habitat, Humanitarian scenarios

SOCOTEC, Structural Consultant

LaSalle, Climat consultant

SmartCitizen,  Sensor Monitoring

Josep Alcover Llubia, Squares

Ceràmica Cumella, ceramist expert

Living Prototypes Research Innovation

Acknowledgements: 

Areti Markopoulou, Mathilde Marengo, Ricardo Mayor, Shyam Zonca, Pilar Xiquez, Ariannet Arias, Gabriel Frederick, Nicolas Rodriguez, Daniela Figueroa Claros, Laura Ruggeri, Xavier Molons, Jorge Ramirez, Jordi Guizán Bedoya

COLLABORATIVE COMPANIES

STUDENTS LIFE

The Role of Industry Partners: the collaboration of 3DPA with WASP

3DPA started the collaboration with WASP in 2021-22 building TOVA.

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3DPA Directors Explore Additive Manufacturing in Construction

The directors of 3DPA have been interviewed by Cactus Media for Stoneweg TV about the transformative impact of innovative technologies.

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