Furniture fresh from the printer

THE NEW 3D printing technology is making tremendous waves, revolutionising everyday life on a previously unimaginable scale. In medicine, surgical instruments and orthopaedic hip and knee implants can be printed out, as can a wide range of dental prostheses. Astronauts deep in space can print a needed spare part and, on the other if more negative end of the scale, criminals can print untraceable guns.
From small items and components, the 3D printer is now scaling up to meet the demands of the construction industry. Within the next decade, perhaps even before, it should be possible for us to live in a house constructed in days by a 3D-printing machine. The advanced technology also allows for complex production shapes that are impossible and expensive with conventional construction.

Part of Anon Pairot’s “Fluctuation of Precision” a 3D printed cement furniture set and rock sculptures.

The technology is about to become commercially viable too, as evidenced by the 2014 unveiling of a 3D-printed 1,100-square-metre villa and a five-storey apartment building by Chinese company Winsun. That was followed last year by the on-site 3D printing of a 400-square-metre, two-storey house by HuaShang Tengda in just 45 days.
In Thailand, Siam Cement Group (SCG) last year tested the waters of 3D printing by producing Southeast Asia’s first printer-spawned dwelling called the “Y-Box Pavilion, 21st-century Cave”. Comprising six twisting columns, the components were printed out using a special cement formula that allowed for a short construction period and dramatic shapes in place of the customary upright columns and flat walls.
This year, SCG has successfully produced a 3D-printed cement furniture set for outdoors that is ready for use and accessible to the public. Working in collaboration with renowned furniture designer Anon Pairot, SCG is launching “Fluctuation of Precision”, as the set has been named, next month. 
“We have turned our visions of product innovation and construction technology into reality by teaming up with architects and designers to create alternative construction materials that respond to consumer demand. In addition to functionality and good design, aesthetics must be part of the products,” says Anuvat Chalermchai, brand director of SCG Cement-Building Materials.

A 1.70-by-1.50metre, 3D printed, curved partition fabricated from layers of concrete 1 cm high and 3 cm wide. 

Working on the concept of “Customised Terrace: Customed-Imagination”, Anon has designed a 3D-printed outdoor landscape set comprising three concrete sofas each measuring 60 by 60 centimetres, a stool, a coffee table, a 1.7-by-1.5-metre curved partition with a two-seater sofa, and three concrete rock-like sculptures. 
“The 3D printer is able to print the concrete components at 1.8 metre in height, width and depth. I tried several designs and finally came up with this outdoor set. Each piece is fabricated from layers of concrete one centimetre in height by three centimetres in width. This requires a short production process and keeps each piece not too heavy,” Anon explains.

The special cement formula is of comparable strength for the structure and will absorb high pressure. The cement is allowed to set for an appropriate time so the injection of additional layers will seamlessly join into a perfect piece without the need of a supportive steel structure.
Extrusion printing is the system used for formulating the shape with the injection of liquefied material in layers to create products that require a strong structure. This also enables exceptional details in each individual layer to give a smooth and curvy design.

To add a soft look to the solid structure, Anon designs the sofas in such a way that the printed layers of cement mimic the pattern of a Chesterfield upholstered leather sofa.
“Each layer of cement is a little like weaving a textile. It binds quickly enough that it can be printed with dramatic curves and twists, and it can remain free-standing while drying without the need for any support material. However, I don’t want my design to look complicated, but raw and strong while being accessible and affordable to the public,” says Anon.

His three sculptures mimic organic rocks and are the perfect complement to any rock garden. 

“It’s fun converting the liquefied cement made of calcined limestone into solid rock-like sculptures. They are strong on the outside, while remaining partially hollow on the inside and can be used to hide water supply lines and electrical outlet for a more seamless landscape,” he adds.
The whole set, says Anuvat, will be on sale for about Bt380,000. The production process takes about 15 days.

Anon believes that having a 3D printer on site to fabricate buildings and construction components in non-traditional shapes and in various colour shades will be commonplace in the not too distant future. Already, designers and homebuilders can move far beyond the usual concepts in floors, walls and ceilings. Walls can arch to the ceiling in elegant curves and each cement column can come with an individual embossed design without the need for a mould.
“The potential advantages of these technologies include faster construction, lower labour costs, increased complexity and accuracy, greater integration of function and less waste produced. I believe that one day you will be able to call SCG to your site to print out your home’s walls, a non-traditional shaped swimming pool or even a full-sized house and these will be complete in several days at an acceptable budget,” says Anon.

The rendering of Jeravej Hongsakul’s shading panels “Dot” made from fibrecement board.

SCG has also collaborated with architect Jeravej Hongsakul of Idin Architects to design shading panels made from the fibre-cement board known as SmartBoard. 
The board comprises cement, special cellulose fibre, silica and water, and passes through a high-pressure steam process to create a tough and sturdy material that is also flexible. With this technology, the panel can be designed in different and unusual shapes while the piercing causes no damage to the product.
Jeravej gives dimensional appeal to the flat surface of SmartBoard in two designs called Dot and Fish.
For the Dot design, Jeravej places importance on the “Inside Out” perspective, which differs from conventional panels that focus more on a shading function and patterns visible from outdoors.
The panels are perforated and a variety of small to large holes with different levels of concentration allow dwellers to see external views from the inside. The designs also add intriguing patterns to the areas with the light passing through the perforated panel creating a dimensional effect.

Jeravej’s “Fish” shading panels form a continuous flow of a pair of fish swimming in the water.

To give the hard material a natural flow, Jeravej has come up with a Fish design for the shading panel.
“I wanted to add a dimensional appeal to the flat surface, so I thought the notion of fish swimming would give a connected flow of movement. When installed, the panels form the continuous flow of a pair of fish swimming in the water,” says Jeravej.
The Dot and Fish shading panels are also being unveiled next month and will be on sale for Bt4,700 per square metre, including the steel structure and installation fee.

A rendering of Jeravej’s egg-shaped pavilion Eggo assembled from fibre cement wood jigsaws.

SCG is also developing a new material – fibre cement wood jigsaw – that can be assembled in a modular system to form any large or small construction. Jeravej is currently in the process of assembling thousands of these fibre cement jigsaws into an egg-shaped pavilion called Eggo and is aiming to unveil it later this year. 
The pavilion – three metres in height and width and 4.65 metres in length – consists of two main components: the Shell that forms the hard outer covering and the Yolk, which is designed as a multi-functional space.
“The egg shape not only defines the origin of life, but is also the most difficult shape to assemble. The fibre cement components can be formed into unlimited different shapes according to your preferences,” says Jeravej.

DIMENSIONAL DESIGNS
The “Fluctuation of Precision” set along with the “Dot” and “Fish” shading panels will be launched and ready for sale at the SCG booth at the Architect’s 17 Fair, taking place from May 2 to 7 at Challenger Hall, Impact Exhibition Centre, Muang Thong Thani.
After the fair, the works will be displayed at SCG Experience on Ekamai-Ram Intra Road from June 1 onwards. 
Find out more by calling (02) 586 2222 or visit www.SCG.co.th.