A 3D printed ceramic facade

Dutch architectural design firm Studio RAP used their bespoke, custom-built 3D print technology to create a ceramic boutique façade in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Called the Ceramic House, the façade was created using state-of-the-art digital fabrication processes to print each bespoke 3D printed ceramic tile. The design was achieved through the use of algorithms and was created as a reinterpretation of “the decorative qualities and design vocabulary of glazed ceramics in the historical city of Amsterdam.”

The design studio replicated the silhouette of the original façade. The size, scale, type and colour of the ornaments and materials were synced with neighbouring buildings to integrate traditional and contemporary architecture seamlessly.

The design of the façade features layers inspired by textiles, interloping yarns and stitch patterns. At street level, the facade features large 3D printed ceramic tiles, approximately 40x20cm each, glazed in pearl white, with a touch of yellow, by Royal Tichelaar. On the higher floors, the building facade showcases 3D printed bricks glazed in three shades of red. The bricks are composed alongside the original masonry cross bond and have abstract ornamentation that fades as they travel higher. These bricks are put into laser-cut stainless steel cassettes, referring to the original flushes.

Photos: Riccardo De Vecchi / Studio RAP