Eric Barendse

Department: Man and Public space
Website: www.ericbarendse.nl

Concrete printer

3D-printing is scaling up rapidly – there are various initiatives for 3D-printed buildings – but it is a challenge to find a material that works. Plastics are not sufficient nor sustainable enough for housing projects. Eric Barendse has researched the possibilities of concrete, which is stronger, lasts forever and is available on a large scale. He built and rebuilt his own 3D-printer as he experimented with the mixture, processing time and form. “When you manage to create the right circumstances, concrete is easy to manipulate,” says Eric. His extensive research has led to a printer that can produce concrete building blocks on-site. He can program various designs into his machine, providing architects with an innovative design tool.