The relationship between architecture and nature is complex. If, on the one hand, we enjoy framing nature as art in our homes; on the other hand, we try at all costs to avoid the presence of obstructive "real" nature in our walls and structures, which can be damaged by roots and leaves. At the same time, we use green roofs, vertical gardens and flower boxes to bring cities closer to nature and improve people's wellbeing; but we also construct buildings with materials that are completely dissociated from fauna and flora. Although the advancement of biomaterials and new technologies is gradually changing this, we should nevertheless ask ourselves whether the structures and buildings we occupy need to be separated from the nature that surrounds them. This was the question that led researchers at the University of Virginia (UVA) to develop geometrically complex 3D-printed soil structures on which plants could grow freely.
The team developed a method for 3D printing with bio-based materials, incorporating circularity into the process. Instead of traditional concrete or plastic materials, the raw material used is the soil itself and local plants mixed with water and inserted into the printer to form walls and structures. By combining the speed, cost efficiency, and low energy demands with locally-sourced bio-based materials, the process of additive manufacturing can evolve and create 3D-printed structures that are completely biodegradable, returning to the earth at the end of its useful lives.
