a BIOCHAR BASED concrete WITH A negative carbon footprint
BARA is an opportunity to build negative carbon construction
systems by rethinking concrete and methods used in the building
industry.
Using on-site 3D printing and casting, entire buildings can be
constructed with reduced cement while storing and capturing carbon.
The focus is on optimizing and improving
structural performance, enhancing carbon storage, and allows for
cleaner, faster assembly.
Analysis and Optimisation
This project explores a parametric approach to constructing 3D-printed walls, with a focus on flexibility, sustainability, and design freedom through geometry analysis and optimisation to maximize its performance.
What is the environmental impact of CO² emitions in the world?
Data source: Global Carbon Budget (2024); Population based on various sources (2024)
OurWorldinData.org/co2-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions | CC BY
What can be done to reduce the emissions of co² and still have a reliable material for the construction industry?
How does BARA work?
Objective – Maximize CARBON capture and storage
Precedents
What are the design possibilities?
1. Parametric Script for Infill Patterns and Printing Paths
The system allows for customization and adjustment, maintaining a consistent base logic.
A custom script is developed to generate infill patterns and printing paths.
This script can be applied to any boundary curve, making it adaptable to various project types and scales.
Pseudo Code – Geometry
2. Wall Construction System
The printed wall acts as a framework for casting, incorporating biochar chunks.
The design integrates carbon-storing features, meaning the wall not only avoids carbon emissions but also helps store carbon inside its form.
3. Optimization Goals
The system is optimized for:
a) Maximizing surface area – to increase carbon capture potential.
b) Maximizing print angles – enabling non-linear, curved, or inclined wall geometries for broader design opportunities.
c) Varying infill pocket sizes – controlled within a defined range to prevent intersections or clashes between pockets.
Pseudo Code – Optimisation
BARA is a methodology and service that supports scalable, low-emission, and high-efficiency construction.
It offers a practical and impactful path toward regenerative
architecture.
