One of the most positive aspects of the 3D printer concept is the enormous range of materials it can work with. Conductive ink, concrete, metals, and even food have joined the versatility of plastic, giving rise to all kinds of projects. One of them is Pylos, from the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia. Its goal is to create a large-scale 3D printing system using a biodegradable and very low-cost material: earth.
The housing crisis and 3D printing
The world is going through multiple crises, and one of them is undoubtedly housing. In some countries, buying or renting is a real nightmare, while in other regions, building a house becomes a titanic challenge. For several years, researchers have been experimenting with 3D printing technologies to create residential spaces quickly and economically. It goes without saying that the current state of 3D printers makes progress slow. Of course, with each new generation, 3D printers gain precision, speed, and stability, but in the case of an entire residence, it is inevitable to closely study the materials that will take on the role of "filament".
Pylos: an elegant use of earth
The Pylos project, led by researcher Sofoklis Giannakopoulos of the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, bets on a common and economical material from every angle: earth. Although earthen constructions carry a certain reputation of precariousness and poverty, the Pylos printer elegantly deploys the virtues of earth. In addition to guaranteeing critical details such as air circulation, fire resistance, and thermal insulation, earth can be processed locally and requires only four percent additives to improve its properties. As an example, one of the columns printed by Pylos measures two meters high, took three hours of work, and the total cost was just five euros.
Limitations and possibilities
Obviously, no one thinks of earth as a magical and definitive solution. Printer errors are the order of the day (you can see one in the video near the end), and factors such as the construction site must also be considered (no one would want to do something like this in an earthquake zone). However, we find it fabulous that Pylos serves to explore construction alternatives.
