# Modular 3D-Printed Columns Vertico’s Duality of Skin and Core Is On Display By Grace Mahas | Written with AI assistance | Published 2026-03-04 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/duality-of-skin References: [3dprinting](https://3dprinting.com/news/3d-printed-modular-column-duality-of-skin-and-core-featured-at-venice-biennale-2025/) 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](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcrete) 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](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Large-scale-printed-architecture) 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](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unfold-form), reducing construction waste while leaving room for the column to be reinstalled elsewhere after the exhibition closes in November 2025. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.2/10 - Popularity: 1% | Activity: 1% | Freshness: 65% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Modular 3d-printed Architecture:** Emerging modular printed elements enable buildings to be assembled, disassembled, and repurposed, creating alternatives to monolithic construction workflows. - **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. - **Computational-to-physical Design Translation:** The direct fabrication of algorithmically optimized geometries is expanding possibilities for bespoke structural forms that integrate performance and ornamentation. ### Where This Applies - **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. - **Cultural Exhibitions and Installations:** Temporary and traveling exhibits could leverage reconfigurable printed elements to extend lifespan and adaptability of large-scale artworks and displays. - **Materials and Specialty Pigments:** Tailored concrete mixes and integrated pigments are opening new product lines where color, texture, and structural performance are engineered together. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Multi-Material 3D Printers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/multimaterial-3d-printer.md) - [Infinitely Expandable Light Fixtures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cube-one-table-lamp.md) - [Structural Modular Lighting Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cube-one-table.md) - [3D-Printed Tall Concrete Towers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-tor-alva.md) - [Recycled Resin Panels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/know-new-plastic.md) - [3D-Printed Colorful Vessels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/olivier-van-herpt-1.md) - [Modular Glass Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/modulo-collection.md) - [In-Situ Circular Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portal-by-decibel.md) - [Architecturally Inspired Exhibition Displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/exhibition-display.md)