2014 3D Print Show NYC Promises a Big Future for Architecture and Interior Design

The technology behind 3-D printing is so innovative, resulting products sometimes look to have been created by magic! This was evident at the 3rd edition of the 3D Print Show held February 12-15, 2014 at the New York Metropolitan Pavilion with 58 exhibitors displaying the miriad of possibilities 3D printing can offer.

The show explored the different solutions that this process can provide- from miniature architectural drawings and sculptures, runway-worthy fashion items (displayed during a live catwalk show) up to life-size comic book characters, architectural elements and furniture pieces.

When it comes to interior design and architecture, the exhibit proved that there is a huge opportunity for interior designers and architects to see their works come to life at the push of a button.

It was well-attended by artists, architects, designers, fashion designers, and anyone else wishing to gather new ideas on how to marry technology and creativity. Amongst the exhibitors were the following standouts.

Daniel Buning’s The Natural Column Project

Daniel Buning utilized the principle of biomimicry in his “Natural Column Project”. Biomimicry is a new science that studies nature's models and then applies the principles within the context of design to provide solutions to design challenges.

Buning studied the biological structures of bones and trees which gave him the possibility to create a free-form column which has optimum load-bearing capabilities. Buning worked in collaboration with Voxeljet and Uformia to exhibit a calibrated 1:1 3D digital model along with a 3D printed model. The resulting outcome of his project clearly hints at a great future for sustainable and ecological manufacturing processes in creating architectural structures.

BigRep One Full-Scale Furniture Printer

Shown here, a prototype of the BigRep One 3D PrinterWatch.German studio BigRep has created a machine big enough to allow for the full-sized printing of furniture! It's build volume is 45 x 39 x 47 inches (that's 46 cubic feet). BigRep's machine can fashion things out of the usual plastics, but can also be tweaked to print using a mixture of wood fibers and polymers, as well as Laybrick, a sandstone-type filament. Its 3D printing capabilities can be seen here through this time-lapse video, on their Vimeo page.

The possibilities of 3D printing for designers and architects are astounding. The process will allow them to instantly experience a tangible manifestation of their work. The immediate feedback that designers can get from this process can create a more efficient workflow as it gives them a more effective hand in reviewing and refining their concepts as they come into reality. It's almost magic!