Specifications
Grotto I (2013)
Virtual:
- Algorithmically generated geometry
- 260 million individual surfaces
- 42 billion voxels
- 78 GB production data
Physical:
- Sand-printed elements (silicate+binder)
- 6m2 footprint, 3.2m height
- 5.8 metric tons weight
- 0.3mm layer resolution, 300 dpi
- 4.0 x 2.0 x 1.0 meter maximum print space
Design Development: Printing: Assembly: |
1 years 1 month 1 day |
Grotto II (2017)
Virtual:
- 16,386 design variations
- 260 million individual surfaces
- 42 billion voxels
- 156 GB production data
- Calculated on ETH EULER high-performance cluster (2000 GB Ram)
Physical:
- Sand-printed elements (silicate+binder)
- 7m2 footprint, 3.45m height
- 537m2 total surface area
- 7 metric tons weight
- 280 µm layer resolution
- 4.0 x 2.0 x 1.0 meter maximum print space
Design Development: Printing: Assembly: |
2 years 1 month 2 days |
Architects
Michael Hansmeyer
Michael Hansmeyer is an architect and programmer who explores the use of computation to generate and fabricate architectural form. Projects include the Sixth Order installation of columns at the Gwangju Design Biennale, the Platonic Solids series, and an installation at the Grand Palais, Paris.
Recently, he taught architecture as a visiting professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. He previously taught at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich and Southeast University in Nanjing. Prior to this, he worked at Herzog & de Meuron architects and in the consulting and financial industries at McKinsey & Company and J.P. Morgan respectively.
www.michael-hansmeyer.comBenjamin Dillenburger
Benjamin Dillenburger is an architect and programmer with a focus on computational design and digital fabrication in architecture. Benjamin was finalist of the MoMA PS1 Young Architects Program 2015. He exhibited work at the Design Exchange Museum Toronto and the Art Basel / Design Miami.
Benjamin is currently assistant professor in the architecture department at ETH Zurich and in the architecture department at the University of Toronto. He holds a PhD and a Master of Advanced Study degree from ETH Zurich. Benjamin Dillenburger is also member of the Spinoff-company KAISERSROT, a consulting & design team for computer aided planning.
www.benjamin-dillenburger.comTeam
Fabrication and assembly: |
Maria Smigielska Miro Eichelberger Yuko Ishizu Jeanne Wellinger Tihomir Jajusevic Nicolás Miranda Turu Evi Xexaki Akihiko Tanigaito |
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Video / Photo: |
Demetris Shammas Achilleas Xydis |
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Partners and Sponsors
Chair for CAAD, Prof. Hovestadt, ETH Zurich | ![]() |
Department of Architecture, ETH Zurich | ![]() |
Voxeljet AG | ![]() |
FRAC Centre | ![]() |
Strobel Quarzsand GmbH | ![]() |
Pro Helvetia | ![]() |
Team
Fabrication and assembly: |
Michael Thomas Philippe Steiner Allegra Stucki Florentin Duelli Jan Francisco Anduaga Katharina Wepler Lorenz Brunnner Nicolas Harter Dominik Keller Max Spett Alexander Canario |
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Digital support: |
Matthias Leschok Alvaro Lopez |
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Photos: | Fabrice Dall'Anese Michael Lyrenmann Demetris Shammas Jann Erhard Hyunchul Kwon |
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Video: | Kaufmann & Gehring | |
Partners and Sponsors
Chair for Digital Building Technologies, ETH Zurich | ![]() |
Department of Architecture, ETH Zurich | ![]() |
Centre Pompidou | ![]() |
Christenguss AG | ![]() |
Bosshard + Co. AG | ![]() |
Suter Elektro AG | ![]() |
The geometry was calculated on the Euler High-Performance Computing Cluster at ETH Zurich. Components were printed on ExOne printers by Christenguss AG.