Digital Fabrication Technology in Concrete Architecture (2014-09)¶

Technological innovation has been an important driving force in architecture, enabling and inspiring architects and engineers by giving them new tools for solving existing problems. In the last two decades, the exploration ofdigital design and fabrication technologies has stimulated the development ofa variety ofinterests and strategies to materialize increasingly complex and customized solutions in architecture, with traditional building materials.Reinforced concrete is the most widely used material in the building industry today and throughout its history has been the subject ofvast research into its performance as a construction material and its tectonic potential in architecture. As such, the introduction ofdigital fabrication processes in concrete construction represents the biggest prospect for renovation ofour built environment and at the same time, presents particular difficulties and opportunities, which are now being addressed. In an effort to investigate the alternative design and material possibilities in concrete emerging from the use ofdigital fabrication technologies in architecture, this paper proposes a focused view ofdigital fabrication applied to concrete construction with two areas ofresearch. By framing the research in the context of reference works in concrete architecture ofthe 20^th century, this paper describes and illustrates taxonomy ofexisting and possible types ofintegration ofdigital fabrication technologies in concrete architecture in the realms ofPractice and Research.This characterization allows the authors to frame the relation between material, technology and architecture in different environments regarding the same material, extracting a clear image ofexisting processes, their potential and shortcomings, as well as expectations for future developments.