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BUILDING BYTES, from page 3

patterns. The resulting bricks can be far more complex than the usual rectangles we build with – X-shaped bricks, for ex- ample, or interlocking honeycomb segments – opening the door to new innovation in architecture and design.” REVOLUTIONIZING FABRICATION. Building Bytes aims to provide a new method of fabricat- ing architecture; desktop 3-D printers become portable, inexpensive brick factories for large-scale con- struction. The first phase of this research focused on how to 3-D print with ceramics at the scale of architecture. Working within fixed limitations (the size of a desktop 3-D printer, capacity of the material storage system and the properties of clay) led to research into bricks. While the material and building unit are ancient and fairly universal, Building Bytes propos- es to revolutionize the fabrication technique. This fabrication system, including the materials and tech- nology, allows Building Bytes to be accessible worldwide. The bricks are made from a liquid slip cast recipe of earth- enware ceramics, which is typically used for casting molds, while a standard desktop 3-D printer is connected to an ex- trusion system consisting of plastic cartridges and air pres- sure. The only customization is a material extrusion head that requires minimal changes to existing printers. Four potential applications were tested: Columns and towers Domes of interlocking brick Vertical tiling Modular honeycomb stackable bricks This research aimed to test the system with two design/fab- rication systems: uniformity (the same brick printed mul- tiple times) and variation (unique bricks that create a spe- cific form). A CONVERSATION WITH PETERS. The Zweig Letter: What led you to this product design? Brian Peters: It started with my research and interest in using digital fabrication for architecture. This then led to the study of the newest tool available, 3-D printing, to see

what new design possibilities it offered for architecture. TZL: What does this product mean to the future of architecture/design? BP: The history of brick production has been based on using molds to produce the bricks. 3-D printing eliminates the need for a mold in brick production, which offers the possibility of having each brick be unique and allows for much more complex and intricate designs to be produced at no extra cost. TZL: What type of knowledge is needed to work with the product? BP: The idea is that the size, material, overall shape and installation are all similar to a traditional brick, so it can be easily blended into the building industry. The biggest difference is the fabrication process, which requires knowledge of digital fabrication. TZL: Can you provide a specific example or two of product application? BP: Interior decorative wall and exterior sun screening wall could both be constructed with these bricks. TZL: What did winning this award mean to you? BP: It is an honor to be recognized by my peers in the 3-D printing community for such a prestigious international design award. For more information, visit buildingbytes.info or designlabworkshop.com.

THE ZWEIG LETTER DECEMBER 7, 2015, ISSUE 1130

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