Sustainable Expression with LOOPS 3D Printed Tables
From the world of sustainable and creative 3D printed designs, Czech designer Martin Žampach reveals his latest creative 3D printed collection – LOOPS. Alongside several designers who have been experimenting with 3D printed expression in art, fashion and furniture, LOOPS takes the concept of additive manufacturing and incorporates elements of sustainability and recycled materials into its design and construction, much like we have seen with various other materials such as ocean plastics or sawdust. However, one defining aspect of the LOOPS coffee table collection is the marriage of two separate materials that comprise the base and the tabletop.
Indeed, these 3D printed coffee tables are the perfect addition to go with your 3D printed chairs! However, the materials’ distinct shape and composition represent more than simply style and function. For this work, the most critical element of Žampach’s focus was sustainability and freedom. The latter is characterized by the artist’s choice to manufacture the table bases via an industrial robotic 3D printer, which uses a robotic arm to extrude the material into the desired shape. The large scale of such an industrial machine allows for more fluid shapes, able to be printed in single shapes without breaks or seams.
LOOPS tables during and after creation
Sustainability, the second aspect, is achieved through the designer’s use of sustainable and recycled materials. As previously mentioned, the tabletops are not 3D printed, but rather the result of a collaboration with the Czech company, Plastic Guys. Plastic Guys takes recycled plastic and reconstructs the material into a variety of forms and objects. The result is a surprisingly beautiful surface that spans several colors from white, gold and black, with whorls of secondary color and texture hidden within.
The 3D printed base is no stranger to sustainability, either. The materials used in the extrusion process contain cellulose produced by responsible forestry. However, using an industrial 3D printer broadens the number of materials that can be used or incorporated into the construction. Finally, the base is printed layer-by-layer, loop by loop, into geometric patterns which “literally grow in front of your eyes” during the printing process. “It was important for me to work with materials that reflect my respect for nature and at the same time will have as little negative impact as possible,” explains Žampach.
The result is a trio of tables available for purchase, with varying base shapes, tabletop colors, and levels of height, which allow for a unique series of customizable creations. The entire LOOPS collection can be seen on Martin Žampach’s website, alongside previous collections of 3D printed vases. You can find them all HERE.
What do you think of the LOOPS collection? Let us know in a comment below or on our Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.
*All Image Credits: Martin Žampach
