Oakland-based architect and designer are heralded as pioneers of digital building

2019-03-18T18:41:00-04:00

Mr. Rael and Ms. San Fratello are committed to democratizing the process for their young acolytes and others, making the point that 3-D printing from “upcycled” materials otherwise destined for the trash heap, and forgoing the purchase of drywall and other construction supplies, is a more sustainable design approach. Ingredients like curry and coffee grounds not only lower the cost, they add a dash of poetry, retaining their aroma long after being transformed.

Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello, principals of the Oakland firm Rael San Fratello, have been pushing the envelope on 3D printing in architecture. The duo—who started the spin-off company Emerging Objects in order to develop materials and applications for the technology—have built a talent for transforming low-cost waste materials into building components. Examples include outdoor furniture made from recycled tires, a casserole dish printed from curry powder, and a cabin built using 4,500 3D printed ceramic tiles.

Beyond proving the potential of additive manufacturing, the two have helped to democratize the technology by making "3-D printing cheaper and more accessible," Patricia Leigh Brown explains in the New York Times. Mr. Rael and Ms. San Fratello often rely on the widely used method called "binder jetting," a process for which the standard materials can often be quite costly. In their pioneering use of non-traditional materials, from clay and wood to salt and chocolate, ...

3D printed Oakland cabin proves the architectural (and aesthetic) possibilities of additive manufacturing

2018-03-14T13:30:00-04:00

Emerging Objects is a self-described 3D Printing MAKE-tank founded by Ronald Rael, an Associate Professor of Architecture at University of California Berkeley, and Virginia San Fratello, an Assistant Professor of Design at San José State University. They are trailblazers in the 3D printing industry, specializing in cutting-edge architecture and building components. Their innovations include a porous ceramic brick that passively cools interiors, a teapot printed from actual tea, furniture made from recycled tires, and now, a fully-livable cabin.

Courtesy of Emerging Objects.

The Cabin of Curiosities is a culmination of the work the Bay Area start-up has been perfecting since its founding and proves the architectural potential of additive manufacturing on a weathertight, structurally sound building. Made from more than 4,500 3D printed ceramic tiles, the structure demonstrates 3D printing's potential for making highly designed building components from unlikely materials.

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Oakland-based architect and designer are heralded as pioneers of digital building

3D printed Oakland cabin proves the architectural (and aesthetic) possibilities of additive manufacturing