BREUER x AM

The "Breuer X AM" project marks a pioneering advancement in the application of additive manufacturing to architectural design, combining Marcel Breuer’s legacy with contemporary digital fabrication. Additive Tectonics took on a central role in this project by developing an innovative material system and tailored AM process, uniquely suited for large-scale concrete elements in architectural contexts.

At the core of this development is the Selective Cement Activation (SCA) technique, a powder-bed 3D printing process that uses a specially formulated cementitious material developed by Additive Tectonics. This novel material system is engineered to create highly functional, single-layered structural elements that integrate insulation, thermal performance, and load-bearing capabilities into a unified monolithic structure. By enabling complex geometric forms with precise control over material distribution, this system not only achieves high levels of design freedom but also enhances sustainability by minimizing waste and resource use.

For "Breuer X AM," Additive Tectonics applied this system to produce a full-scale demonstrator—a façade element that is 3 meters tall, 1.8 meters wide, and 0.75 meters deep. This component’s structure dynamically adapts to parameters such as sunlight exposure, thermal insulation needs, and structural demands, demonstrating the flexibility and potential of this new material and AM process in real-world architectural applications.

Through "Breuer X AM," Additive Tectonics illustrates how advanced material science, when paired with innovative AM techniques, can redefine traditional architectural paradigms. This project not only showcases the potential for resource efficiency and architectural creativity but also establishes a path toward integrating customized digital fabrication in sustainable building solutions.

This research was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation)