Vertico’s Duality of Skin and Core Is On Display
Edited by Grace Mahas — March 4, 2026 — Art & Design
This article was written with the assistance of AI.
References: 3dprinting
Designed by Eindhoven University of Technology's Assistant Professor Cristina Nan and computational design specialist Mattia Zucco, "Duality of Skin and Core" is a 3D printed modular column currently on display at the Venice Biennale 2025. Part of the Time, Space, Existence exhibition in the Marinaressa Gardens, the piece extends the duo's ongoing Computational Concrete Columns-Series. Large-scale printing was handled by Dutch firm Vertico, with materials and pigments supplied by Germany's Lanxess.
The column's structure draws from ancient Greek and Roman stacked-drum construction, applying that modular logic to a 3D printed concrete form. A deliberate slit in the grey outer skin exposes a gradient orange-red core beneath, turning structural anatomy into visual contrast. Unlike monolithic printed concrete, the segmented build supports disassembly and reassembly, reducing construction waste while leaving room for the column to be reinstalled elsewhere after the exhibition closes in November 2025.
The column's structure draws from ancient Greek and Roman stacked-drum construction, applying that modular logic to a 3D printed concrete form. A deliberate slit in the grey outer skin exposes a gradient orange-red core beneath, turning structural anatomy into visual contrast. Unlike monolithic printed concrete, the segmented build supports disassembly and reassembly, reducing construction waste while leaving room for the column to be reinstalled elsewhere after the exhibition closes in November 2025.
Trend Themes
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Modular 3d-printed Architecture — Emerging modular printed elements enable buildings to be assembled, disassembled, and repurposed, creating alternatives to monolithic construction workflows.
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Skin and Core Aesthetic Systems — A renewed focus on contrasting outer shells and inner cores introduces opportunities for buildings to communicate structure and function through visible material gradients.
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Computational-to-physical Design Translation — The direct fabrication of algorithmically optimized geometries is expanding possibilities for bespoke structural forms that integrate performance and ornamentation.
Industry Implications
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Construction and Structural Engineering — Segmented printable components have the potential to reduce waste and logistics complexity by enabling on-site assembly of optimized, transportable structural units.
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Cultural Exhibitions and Installations — Temporary and traveling exhibits could leverage reconfigurable printed elements to extend lifespan and adaptability of large-scale artworks and displays.
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Materials and Specialty Pigments — Tailored concrete mixes and integrated pigments are opening new product lines where color, texture, and structural performance are engineered together.
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