Sustainable architecture is made even easier thanks to these 3D-printed salt igloos. Lightweight and eco-friendly, the materials making up these fragile-looking structures were locally harvested from the San Francisco Bay, specifically 109-year-old salt cystallisation ponds in Redwood City. Bonded together using a glue substance, the resulting structures are waterproof, sturdy and transparent.
Created by Emerging Objects, an Oakland-based design studio founded by Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello, the 3D-printed salt igloos are connected together by 336 randomly aggregated panels. Psfk notes, "Salt blocks have a long history in the construction of architecture, but the Saltygloo re-imagines the use of the naturally abundant element in a way that is inexpensive compared to commercial materials." Following Saltygloo, Emerging Objects plans to build a full house.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Sustainable Architecture
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the potential of 3D printing eco-friendly structures using sustainable materials like salt.
- 3D Printing
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new applications for 3D printing technology in construction to create lightweight and transparent structures.
- Local Material Sourcing
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Investigate the use of locally harvested materials to reduce environmental impact and construction costs.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Architecture
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate 3D printing into architectural design processes to produce unique and sustainable structures.
- Construction
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Implement 3D printing technology in the construction industry to streamline building processes and reduce material waste.
- Sustainable Materials
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new sustainable materials, like 3D-printed salt, for use in various industries, including construction and design.
