The Top 3D Printed Pavilions Around the World

A pavilion is defined by the the Merriam-Webster dictionary as an “a usually open sometimes ornamental structure in a garden, park, or place of recreation that is used for entertainment or shelter.”. In recent years, there has been an increasing trend towards using additive manufacturing to create pavilions. With the help of 3D technologies, it is possible to design buildings more efficiently, at a reduced cost, and with a minimized amount of materials while still allowing for the creation of more complex geometries. Some 3D-printed pavilions feature designs that would have been impossible to accomplish with traditional manufacturing techniques, such as honeycomb structures constructed using topological optimization. These 3D-printed pavilions can now be found worldwide, showcasing the possibilities of 3D printing. While most are constructed with concrete, it’s worth noting that other materials have been used with an environmental concern in mind. We took a closer look at some of the top examples.

A 3D Printed Pavilion in Mexico

Named “Sueños con Fiber/Timber, Earth/Concrete” (Dreams with Fiber/Timber, Earth/Concrete), this 3D printed pavilion was created in Mexico to showcase the city’s stories and raise awareness about preserving our planet. The team behind it, consisting of Structures MIT Digital Engineering, the international organization New Story, and Échale, a Mexican social enterprise, aimed to combine three key elements: innovative technology, traditional craftsmanship, and sustainable materials. The pavilion’s horizontal roof structure maximizes the existing joist-and-vault system, reducing the need for precast reinforced concrete beams and enhancing its environmental sustainability. The clay 3D printed blocks are placed between the beams, allowing for the pouring of a top slab. By using locally-sourced materials and recycling, the pavilion not only becomes more affordable, but it also significantly reduces its carbon footprint.

Tiny House, the Pavilion without Frames or Custom-Made Formwork

The De Huizenprinters consortium in the Netherlands is responsible for creating a 3D-printed concrete pavilion called Tiny House. This collaborative effort involves several companies, including Heilijgers construction firm, Van der Kamp BV concrete supplier, innovation experts Blueways, creative innovators community De WAR, and 3D concrete printing company Vertico. According to the creators, designing the roof was the most difficult part of the process. The print head orientation and various end heights had to be carefully considered, requiring significant time and energy. The pavilion is constructed entirely from concrete, including recycled concrete aggregates, eliminating the need for frames or formwork. It is composed of eight sections and was created using parametric design to test its ability to withstand changes in the weather. This sustainable project is an excellent example of the possibilities offered by additive manufacturing and offers new construction methods for future structures.

Aectual’s 3D Printed Wall for a Pavilion in the United Arab Emirates

Aectual, a company specializing in 3D printing, has produced a 2,000m² pavilion in the United Arab Emirates that features a fully recyclable wall created through an innovative 3D printing process. The process, which reduced CO2 emissions by 80% compared to traditional methods, used a flaxseed-based plastic that can be recycled up to seven times. The pavilion’s design was created by the architectural firm Pragma and incorporates a claustra structure – a traditional pattern common in Arabic architecture that results in a unique translucent facade. To create an interwoven look, the inner courtyard of the structure is clad with green elements that were printed using plant-based plastic.

The World’s Largest 3D Printed Pavilion Is in China

The world’s largest pavilion, created through additive manufacturing, can be found in Nanjing, China. The pavilion, which adorns the amusement park Happy Valley, boasts a size of 52m in length, 26m in width, and a total area of 1950 m². What makes this pavilion particularly impressive is its extraordinary design featuring a multidimensional hyperbolic structure that blends human creativity with machine precision. The exterior of the pavilion was 3D printed using a UV-resistant thermoplastic in a pixelated pink color, a design concept developed by Archi-Union Architects and Fab Union. The pavilion serves not only as a symbol of the theme park but also as a unique attraction for visitors and tourists alike.

A 3D Printed Desert Pavilion in Wadi Rum

When it comes to the heat of a desert, shade is critical. For this reason, Dubai-based architecture studio MEAN* (Middle East Architecture Network) has created a 3D printed pavilion in order to welcome visitors in the desert of Wadi Rum, a popular tourist destination thanks to its inclusion in films like Lawrence of Arabia, Rogue One and the Martian, among others. The team aimed to create the pavilion by merging the local Bedouin heritage with innovative technologies. The result? A hybrid of a 3D printed polymer shell on 3D printed concrete topography with a design based on the ‘Mesh Relaxation’ parametric strategy. A key part of the structure as well is its panels that are able to let in light and which were tessellated for maximum efficiency for 3D printing. The 3D printed panels are deployed on metal pipes for maximum strength and beauty.

R-iglo, the 3D Printed Pavilion Made From Recycled PET

R-iglo is the brainchild of the Royal3D printing service in the Netherlands. The pavilion is made from recycled PET, a material perhaps best known for its use in plastic water bottles. Indeed, the company based it on the idea of a circular economy, not only is R-iglo made out of recycled plastic, but at the end of its usage and lifetime it can be picked up and recycled again by the company. Not only that, but it has been conceived to be multipurpose, notably serving as workspace with a number of different functions like a self-supporting structure, an acoustically optimized structure, ventilation, heating, electricity and LED lighting. It is available in various sizes (small, medium and large) and is 3D printed on the CFM Prim machine from CEAD, a Dutch manufacturer focusing on large format composite additive manufacturing.

Student Designed Pavilion – ‘Trillium’

The University of Tennessee’s School of Architecture students designed, 3D printed, and installed a pavilion named Trillium at the university’s Cherokee Farm campus, led by researcher James Rose and industry partner Loci Robotics. Trillium was inspired by the Trillium tennesseense plant, and its curved surfaces and geometries were used to shape the pavilion’s design. The 3D printed pavilion takes the shape of a three-lobed dome and provides shaded indoor seating for the research campus. The thickness of the pavilion’s shell ranges from 12 to 20 cm, an accomplishment only possible through additive manufacturing and the use of a robotic arm for large-scale 3D printing. Carbon-fiber reinforced ABS, a recycled and recyclable material, was used to print the structure, which covers an area of 4.5 m² and weighs about 600kg. Despite its lightweight, the material used makes the pavilion strong and durable. Loci Robotics printed Trillium, and the students installed it on campus. Check out the video to see the final result.

AIRMESH, the 3D Printed Pavilion in Singapore

With many of the 3D printed pavilions on our list, they are made with plastic or concrete, materials that are commonly used for 3D printing construction projects. But this next one is a little different. The AirMesh pavilion was made in 2019 by AIRLAB, founded by architects Carlos Banon and Felix Raspall and based at the Singapore University of Technology and Design. What is remarkable is that the structure was the first of its kind, with components 3D printed out of stainless steel before being assembled. Its shape is also noteworthy, it is a polyhedron with four rectangular view frames, reinterpreting a traditional Chinese lantern, and made using a custom parametric tool to optimize the topology of the frame, the bars and the node. The resulting pavilion consists of 216 bars as well as 54 unique nodal joints also 3D printed from a steel and bronze alloy. The structure is lightweight and strong, capable of withstanding up to 16 times its weight. It was approved by the Singapore Building Construction Authority (BCA) and place at Gardens by the Bay.

Dubai’s Immersive S-Shaped Pavilion

Another projects from the Middle East Architectural Network (MEAN*), they have constructed a 3D-printed pavilion named Deciduous in Dubai’s international financial center. The abstract botanical form of the pavilion symbolizes the relationship between man and nature. The pavilion is composed of interconnected prefabricated pieces that were assembled on site. Birch plywood, concrete, and plastic are the materials used to build the pavilion. While CNC machines were used to shape the wood, 3D printers were utilized to shape the concrete and plastic. Over five companies collaborated to achieve the project. Ai Build from Great Britain was responsible for 3D printing the polymers, while Reflow recycled over 30,000 plastic bottles to create the filament. Besix 3D was engaged to consult on concrete printing

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