Vertical Modulations

Abstract

The context of digital fabrication allows architects to reinvestigate material, process and the design decisions they entail to explore novel expression in architecture. This demands a new approach to design thinking, as well as the relevant tools to couple the form of arte- facts with the process in which they are made. This paper presents a customised computational design tool developed for exploring the novel design space of Concrete Extrusion 3D Printing (CE3DP), enabling a reinterpretation of the concrete column building typology. This tool allows the designer to access generative engines such as trigonometric functions and mesh subdivision through an intuitive graph- ical user interface. Balancing process efficiency as understood by our industry with a strong design focus, we aim to articulate the unique architectural qualities inherent to CE3DP, energising much needed innovation in concrete technology.