[3D Printing Applications] How can architecture go from concept to award through 3D printers?

[3D Printing Applications] How can architecture go from concept to award through 3D printers?

Make is a different kind of architecture practice company that aims to "design the world's best architecture, places, and spaces." Make's Ultimaker 3D printer supports the studio's democratic design culture, allowing the model-making team to print thousands of models each year—from concepts to large-scale backgrounds.



Model making before 3D printing
Before using 3D printers , Make relied on traditional model-making methods; usually using foam materials (styrene or other plastics, etc.) and cardboard cut by hand, and wooden models, but this was a time-consuming and laborious task.
Paul Myers, Make's module manager, emphasized: "We still have a wood workshop, but moving large pieces of wood is a huge hassle; and the noise, dust, and office cleanliness produced are nowhere near as good as a quiet 3D printer."

Time and cost saved
To date, almost all of Make's architectural designs begin on the Ultimaker printing platform. 3D printers are even used for large-scale studies; for example, the team recently completed a 1:1000 scale cityscape model of East London, reconstructing a kilometer of the city and printing 850 buildings, precisely positioned on a one-square-meter base.


3D printing allowed this large research model to be completed in just two weeks at a cost of only £2,000 (approximately NT$80,000).

Until a few years ago, Paul had to commission other suppliers to build these models out of wood, typically costing £20,000 (about NT$800,000) and taking six weeks to complete. Now, using only a set of Ultimaker 2+ and Ultimaker 3 printers, Paul's team has created hundreds of individual architectural structures in just two days. And the cost? Only $2,000 (about NT$60,000) in labor and materials, and only two weeks to complete. While saving 90% of time and cost would significantly improve ROI for most businesses, Paul believes this is only one of the biggest benefits. For him, the true value of using 3D printing to create models encompasses much more.


Designers were able to use 3D printed models to recreate the West End landmark, LSQ London, while preserving its original appearance.


By unlocking the site's potential through an elegant arched roof, Make Architects won the Metal Structure Design Award in 2017.

Support the culture of the studio
The Ultimaker printer plays a vital role in Make's studio, where every employee is instructed on how to use the 3D printer in the model room and build their own designs. Paul says, "This wouldn't be possible without Ultimaker's user-friendly operating system; the entire Ultimaker Cura and printer system allows anyone to print 3D designs . The use of preset material configurations and files, and the simple workflow, is undoubtedly a major advantage." This is extremely helpful for designers, allowing them to quickly print, modify, and replace 3D models to test space limitations and bring concepts to life.


Using 3D printed models allows people to see the actual results and fine-tune the structure of architectural aesthetics.


Designers, architects , and clients can make important creative decisions based on accurate and cost-effective models.

To this end, the designers printed rough "3D sketches" to find the aesthetic limits of the space. Scale, volume, mass, proportion, and orientation were all important variables in the exploration. They needed rigorous consideration when designing the best architecture for a site; then they examined each structure against the surrounding urban landscape to ensure that the result was in harmony with the environment, could accommodate human activities, and even cast the right shadows.

Paul explained that the same experience cannot be achieved on a 2D computer screen; printing concept models in 3D allows everyone—from architects to clients—to directly view, replace, and experience the building.
3D printing, used for conceptualizing samples and showcasing post-processed models , has become an indispensable part of Make's design and development process. Almost every year there are shortlisted projects—some of which consistently win awards; for example, their St. James's Market design recently won the 2018 RIBA London Award.

Globally connected digital productivity
With cross-timezone studios in Sydney and Hong Kong, Make's 3D printing workflow operates 24/7 and increases productivity; global teams can assist with 3D design until deadlines. Paul added, "There's a lot of data transfer between offices; we might have files in London and print in Sydney or Hong Kong. It's an integrated process, not a lone studio."


Make architects used their 14 Ultimaker 3D printers to create 3D models and study the limitations of the site.


Ultimaker Cura's simple yet powerful interface allows every employee to participate in Make's 3D printers .

Over the years, model making has become increasingly reliant on Ultimaker printers. After their first two printers were embraced by colleagues in 2014, Paul quickly expanded to four, then eight; now, with a total of 14 printers, the team can create a wide variety of model projects. Paul says, "When using multiple Ultimaker 3 printers, Cura Connect makes it easy to track the printers and their status; I even log onto the network from home and check the printing progress from there."

Achieving outstanding results through 3D printing
With 3D printing now integrated into their workflow, the Ultimaker printer has become an effective tool for the team; by combining this technology with painting and laser cutting, Paul's team can focus their valuable time and attention on the overall presentation of the model. Currently, they have 14 printers to meet their needs. But Paul says, "If we need 100 Ultimakers in the future, we will undoubtedly set up 100."

To learn more about how 3D printing can benefit your work, please refer to our other articles for more information; or if you already have a great idea, we also offer high-quality printing services . We will continue to share various manufacturing methods and information related to the latest technologies , so please stay tuned.
Original link: https://ultimaker.com/en/stories/52690-make-architects-from-3d-print-to-award-winning-building