‘Zach’ by KR3N.

London based design studio, KR3N. creates travelling installation that speculates on a modular way of building – they called him Zach…. 

Zach, was designed as one part of a larger system and during a trip round Europe, sat on a carcassing timber frame, that also protected him during transit. 

KR3N. the London based duo formed of John Clayson and Andrei Dinu, travelled with the 110kg 3D sand printed Zach for a short four nights in September 2022 but covered a lot of distance. Beginning in London and connecting iconic and intentionally kitsch locations in a round trip though Dover, Paris, Zurich, Milan, rural Southern Austria and back again. 

KR3N. have investigated part-based assembly systems and the project was done to test the production of one of these parts; studying the benefits and limitations of the technology at various stages between conception and site. 

Zach is formed from 3D Sand printing, which is a relatively young incarnation of common 3D printing technology, but traditionally has been used indirectly in foundries to produce moulds for metal is casting. KR3N. were interested by the way that this technology could be used as a direct additive manufacturing tool and fuse a continuous method of making with a modular mode of assembly.  

The duo, who state they have an ‘object oriented’ approach towards design, personified the part, treating Zach as the third companion on the journey, but also treating themselves as parts, fascinated by the problems faced transporting and displaying the three of them. 

KR3N. said “the ritual of transporting the block gave us insight into the limitations and strengths of the system, as well as a tactile understanding of the printed output” and “in this way, and through personification, bridging the gap between human and machine processes was important to us” 

The pair sought to study how people interacted with Zach in different scenarios. In Paris, having parked outside the city, used a trolley and their hands to transport the 110 kg module on a public bus, to in front of the Eiffel tower where they erected him on his frame. “Zach took knocks that day, but it was amazing to see people interacting with him and the different ways they did so…. In Paris he was a selfie stand, in Zurich a pier decoration, in Milan a pigeon ledge, in Austria a table to enjoy a beer”

The pair promote aesthetic resilience, basing design on system, material production, and experience. This meant they embraced wear and even damage and were fascinated by the way formal and textural evolutions of Zach did not impact his visual and aesthetic validity; instead, his meaning was dictated by his surroundings and the people that interacted with him. 

KR3N. are interested in additive manufacturing techniques potential in optimising and customising part-based assemblies. By placing themselves at the intersection of fiction and fabrication, the analogue and the digital, KR3N. hope their work can disrupt the perpetuating obsession with image in architectural production.