Printing Earth

3D printed mixture of clay and sand, wood, stainless steel

2025

This project investigates the use of earthen materials in 3D printing as a pathway toward sustainable construction. The construction industry is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, and current decarbonization efforts remain insufficient. While alternatives such as mass timber show promise, earth offers an even more circular material lifecycle; it can be extracted, shaped, and returned to the land without pollution. This project culminates in an exhibition of 3D-printed earthen wall assemblies, highlighting how additive manufacturing can minimize waste while opening new possibilities for sustainable building practices. The installation seeks to spark interest in the potential of earth as a construction material and encourage further research into this ancient yet innovative resource.

Ndop is an ancient textile tradition from the grasslands regions of Cameroon and Nigeria, characterized by resist-dyed indigo cloth decorated with symbolic motifs. Historically, it has been used in royal courts and rituals, where its patterns serve as visual records of identity, heritage, and social status. I became particularly interested in the symbolic motifs, which often depict animals and natural forms, each carrying specific spiritual associations. African artists have long been unrecognized for their innovative use of geometric abstraction, a practice that later inspired the Cubist movement. Building on this tradition, I further abstracted symbols representing mountains, lizards, birds, chevrons, snakes, and turtles — each imbued with specific spiritual meaning. The final assembly reflects a layout reminiscent of ndop textiles, connecting my reinterpretation to its historical foundation.