3D printed clay facade bricks

For her master thesis at TU Berlin, Victoria Roznowski used computational design to optimise 3D printed clay façade bricks with enhanced thermal properties and integrated greenery.

Called Brick By Bit, the project consists of various types of interlocking clay bricks. The bricks were designed using the finite element method (FEM), a method used to numerically solve different equations arising in engineering and mathematical modelling, in this case heat transfer. The method was used to decide on the best pattern to minimise thermal loss. This pattern was enhanced with additional insulation to meet the German Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) requirement of a U-value below 0.24.

Some bricks are outfitted with a greenery pocket for green façades, and others are designed to channel rain water towards these planters. There are also bricks with ventilated chambers for the top and bottom of the façade, to enhance thermal regulation and air circulation.

Since the bricks are interlocking, no mortar is needed during construction. This means that structures built with these bricks can be easily disassembled and the bricks reused.

Photos: Victoria Roznowski