For centuries, churches were built across Europe as an expression of devotion to God. Even today, these houses of worship remain at the heart of many towns and offer insight into history through their architecture and interior design. Building a church, however, was by no means a simple task. Construction often took several decades and came at great cost. Although modern technology could enable faster and safer construction, very few churches are being built today. This makes it all the more remarkable that a new church project has been launched in Liberec, Czech Republic. But this new church will not be built traditionally; rather, it will be 3D-printed! So how did the idea of a 3D-printed church come about?
Liberec was not always without a church. The original Church of Christ in Reichenberg (now Liberec) was built in 1864 in the Christianstadt district. However, during the Communist era in 1976, it was demolished. Prior to that, it had been severely damaged by a fire and was eventually destroyed through controlled demolition. Now, a new church is set to be built at Českých bratří, the Square of the Bohemian Brethren.
An informational sign indicates where the original church stood until 1976. (Credit: David Pluhař)
The idea and design come from architect Jiří Suchomel. He is the founder of the Faculty of Art and Architecture at the Technical University of Liberec (TUL), a strong advocate for innovation in the construction industry, and the initiator of the “3D Star” project. As part of this project, teams from TUL and the Klokner Institute of the Czech Technical University in Prague collaborated to develop a mobile 3D printing robot for cement mixtures called “Printing Mantis.” This robot is intended to be used for printing the church.
A 3D-Printed Church as a Bridge Between Tradition and Modernity
Not only is the construction method intended to be more modern than in the past, but so is the architecture, as Professor Suchomel emphasizes: “The idea came to me that we could try to design and build a new church using 3D printing, right where the original one once stood. But instead of creating a church that follows the formal conventions of 150 years ago, we should build something entirely new and differently conceived … a structure that offers a contemporary atmosphere and speaks to people of the 21st century.” The church is intended not only for liturgical use but also for cultural events. For this reason, the interior of the church is designed differently from the exterior to enhance acoustics.
The design envisions a four-story structure with seating for 100 people. The main form is to be made entirely using 3D-printed concrete, topped with a roof constructed from steel and wood. Professor Suchomel also took into account the architectural and structural potential of thin-walled concrete construction when designing the main shape. “The form is derived from a regular octahedron made up of eight equilateral triangles. One of the side walls is open to welcome visitors and invite them in. Beneath the main hall of the church, there is an additional floor intended for other community activities and necessary facilities,” he explains.
The building’s basic form takes advantage of the design possibilities offered by 3D concrete printing. (Credit: Jiří Suchomel)
According to the plan, the church is to be printed in stages. By moving the printer horizontally, the different floors can be created one after another. Unlike other construction projects, the custom-developed printer is not larger than the building itself but relatively small. As part of the 3D Star project, the first half-scale test models have already been produced and tested at the Klokner Institute.
3D-Printed Church with a Green Footprint
According to the scientists involved in the project, using 3D printing for a structure of this size offers several advantages. It can save time, costs, and labor, while also providing a high degree of precision and flexibility. By printing hollow walls, the overall use of cement and waste is reduced, which positively impacts the building’s carbon footprint.
A first “symbolic fragment” of the 3D-printed church has already been created. Whether the project will actually be realized, however, depends on funding. If the search for investors and financial support is successful, Liberec may become home to the world’s first fully 3D-printed church. You can find more about it HERE.
Professor Jiří Suchomel in the faculty studio of Karel Hubáček. (Credit: Adam Pluhař)
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*Cover Image Credit: Rendering of the 3D-printed church by Jiří Suchomel