# 3D-Printed Sand Structures The Stone Spray Robot Organically Creates a Sand Bridge in the Desert By Alyson Wyers | Published 2014-05-26 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sand-bridge References: [fastcoexist](http://www.fastcoexist.com/3028528/this-robot-can-print-a-bridge-out-of-sand) & [stonespray](http://www.stonespray.com) A 3D printing robot can create a sand bridge that you could fully walk on. The Stone Spray robot can create structures out of sand or soil and solar power. Using this technology you could [build a house](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tiny-house-lux) out of nowhere or a sand bridge in the middle of the desert. The soil or sand is combined with a binder, which the robot sprays to create an organic form. Unlike traditional 3D printers, the Stone Spray can print vertically and horizontally. This process works best in hot, dry places because sunlight helps set the materials. The printer was built at the [Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/magnecko-robot) by Petr Novikov, Inder Shergill and Anna Kulik. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.8/10 - Popularity: 45% | Activity: 91% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) > [Eco Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/ecoarchitecture) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **3d-printed Sand Structures:** The Stone Spray robot offers disruptive innovation opportunities for the construction industry, allowing for the creation of fully functional structures using sand or soil and solar power. - **Vertical and Horizontal Printing:** The Stone Spray's ability to print both vertically and horizontally opens up new possibilities for additive manufacturing, making it a game-changer in the field of 3D printing. - **Organic Form Creation:** The Stone Spray's use of a binder sprayed onto sand or soil enables the creation of organic forms, revolutionizing the way we think about architectural design and construction. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Construction:** The construction industry can benefit from the Stone Spray robot's ability to rapidly create structures using 3D-printed sand or soil, leading to cost savings and increased flexibility in design. - **Additive Manufacturing:** The Stone Spray's unique ability to print in both vertical and horizontal directions presents disruptive innovation opportunities for the additive manufacturing industry, enabling the creation of complex structures with greater ease and efficiency. - **Architectural Design:** The Stone Spray's use of organic form creation offers a new approach to architectural design, allowing architects to explore innovative shapes and structures that were previously difficult to achieve using traditional construction methods. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Underwater Concrete Printing Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/darpa-1.md) - [Organically Printed Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lib-earth-house.md) - [Automated Worksite Printer Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hp-siteprint.md) - [3D-Printed Tiled Ceramic Archways](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/delft-blue.md) - [Sustainable Growth Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/treesoil.md) - [3D-Printed Canopy Shelters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/archaeological-complex-of-carmona.md) - [Fully Recyclable 3D-Printed Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biohome3d.md) - [3D-Printed Hotels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-printed-hotel.md) - [3D Glass Printing Methods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/complex-glass-structures.md)