Sea Prototype

The Sea Prototype presents a case study on the use of 3DCP to qualify rocky pontoons with spaces for recreational use – namely sitting areas, circulation trails and fishing activities – and biodiversity protection – providing habitat and refuge for native marine species – with a focus on the challenges and opportunities associated with 3DCP prefabrication for such a complex topographical context.

The work starts from a discussion of the benefits and disadvantages of using 3DCP processes in relation to traditional methods. Based on the main potentialities detected, a design methodology is proposed in three steps for a specific case study in Povoa de Varzim, Portugal: (1) photogrammetric survey and digital reconstruction of the existing rocky landscape; (2) the creation of a tool to generate and optimise the custom fit of the platforms to be produced and of each slab in particular based on their position on the site, intended use and function in the protection of the natural ecosystem; (3) the robotic manufacturing of these components through a 3DCP process.

In conclusion, the work presents a prototype prepared for application in a real context, where the use of digitisation, design and manufacturing technologies are combined to generate more efficient and sustainable solutions, designing and building architectural elements adapted to highly complex contexts. The final prototype is composed of six post-tensioned printed modules that fit perfectly into the irregular topography of the selected marine rockfill, ensuring its accessibility to the surface and designing an internal structure taking into account two main objectives: 1) increase the strength of the produced pieces; 2) generate internal voids with different dimensions and textures in order to promote the attachment of local marine life and disperse the force of the swell.

RESEARCH TEAM

Paulo J. S. Cruz, Bruno Figueiredo (coordination); João Ribeiro, António Morais, João M. Silva and Filipe Brandão (design and development).