Large Format Additive Manufacturing with Cement and Clay Applications (2025-12)¶

Large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) uses cement and clay and offers solutions for applications in the construction, urban furniture, maritime, and artistic sectors. Cement-based materials excel in structural uses, while clay-based materials provide greater design flexibility. However, only by integrating parametric design with high-performance clay-based materials will printing structural elements with this material become possible by enabling more complex and efficient structures. Digital technologies in construction can revolutionize architectural tectonics (the artistic and functional expression of a building's structure and materials), facilitating the production of complex forms that prioritize both aesthetics and performance. Parametric and generative design, combined with LFAM technologies, can offer opportunities for design flexibility, reduced environmental impact, and improved energy efficiency. However, attention needs to be paid to challenges such as interdisciplinary collaboration, structural analysis, printing control, maintenance planning, and stakeholder acceptance. To validate the technology's potential for manufacturing facade components, a practical study is demonstrated using parametric design with Grasshopper to outline the geometry of a facade panel.