Architect Arthur Mamou-Mani has completed a new permanent installation at Pancras Square, King’s Cross in London. Named RIVA, the work combines metal fabrication and biobased 3D printed material to explore transitions between outside and inside, light and dark, stillness and movement.

Materials and Structure

RIVA consists of two connected elements, one outside and one inside. The exterior introduces Mamou-Mani’s wave geometry in metal for the first time. Its soft, flowing lines create a durable marker at the building entrance. Inside, the team produced a 3D printed structure from fermented sugar and a non-toxic fire retardant, forming a biodegradable bioplastic. At three metres long and nearly two metres high, it is the studio’s largest single 3D print so far.

The two parts highlight contrasting qualities. Metal provides permanence, while the biobased element demonstrates renewable, circular alternatives. Together, they suggest how designers can combine robust and experimental materials in one project.

Digital Design and Fabrication

The studio developed RIVA’s geometry through parametric modelling, which offered precise control over folds and joints. In addition, the team used Augmented Reality (AR) to align digital modules with the real space. This process reduced errors and supported efficient installation.

Fabrication and assembly took place in collaboration with Fab.Pub. Their expertise translated the complex design into physical panels and ensured structural accuracy. At night, integrated lighting produces a warm glow, guiding visitors between the square outside and the calmer interior.

Relevance for Design Practice

For architects and interior designers, RIVA demonstrates how bioplastics and digital fabrication can extend into large-scale applications. At the same time, it shows how parametric tools and AR can improve the connection between concept and construction.

The installation also offers insight for product and materials designers. It illustrates how hybrid strategies can merge renewable resources with conventional materials, creating results that are both functional and expressive.

Source & photos: Mamou-Mani