Strong of the numerous and serious conclusions that you have all defined in the Research phase, the next step of the 3dPA program is the design of a small earth 3d printed structure that spans over a person and fits within one crane printing radius (4m). 

A few considerations. The project has no other function than the previously stated. The solution does not necessarily need to define an enclosure. The structural proposal can rest on the floor in 2 or more points or lines. The geometry needs to contain some vertical surfaces. Due to vulnerability to water, the structure might need to be covered by an additional layer (timber, fired clay, …), this element will not be constructed during 3dPA, but it might be interesting to develop it for your proposal. You are not required to print in this phase, but you might want to test some aspects of your design (no other tool than the desktop printers will be available). 

Alongside a set of additional documents described below, the main deliverable is a printable 3d model that does not exceed 54 m2 of printing surface. 

For this new phase, we are asking the groups to reconfigure in order to spread and cross-bread the knowledge previously established, and to give all groups the freedom to work with whichever of the 6 techniques, or hybrids, they find most relevant. A group can therefore work with a toolkit that they haven’t developed. In the context of this pioneering nature of this project and the necessity to share knowledge, this is an important quality that will also reinforce our collective.

Learning Objectives  

1. To design a small structural prototype
2. To understand all design directions and decide on a selected one
3. To integrate feasibility issues within design
4. To catalogue design options
5. To produce a competition-like set of deliverables