Workshop 01

Concrete Stick: Intelligent 3D Printing of Reconfigurable Lightweight Concrete with Textured Interlocking Geometry

Instructor:
Bingze Li – Computational Designer & Principal at DataformLab (UK); Research Assistant, Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL; MArch in Architecture, UCL
Teaching Assistants: Wenliang Liu, Jiawei Zhang
Technical Support: DAMlab × Dataform × AIZAWA

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Keywords:
Textured interlocking concrete structures, geometric interlock systems, reconfigurable concrete printing apparatus, design for manufacturing, variable-layer-thickness 3D printing, visual print monitoring

Description:
In the era of digital construction, architects are no longer confined to shaping a building’s appearance but are also involved in the efficient and precise fabrication of non-standard components through the integration of parametric design and AI-assisted robotic construction technologies. This transformation enables design intervention at a micro scale, unlocking the material’s structural and performance potential. This workshop explores how to apply a “Design for Manufacture” methodology combined with parametric design tools to develop and fabricate interlocking texture structures in 3D-printed concrete components, achieving texture-level interlocking functionality between units.
Participants will systematically learn the manufacturing logic of 3D concrete printing, master key factors affecting printing quality, and understand the basic workflow from CAD to CAM. They will explore the design strategies for interlocking joints in 3D-printed concrete and use parametric tools to generate internal supports and texture paths. Through topology optimization, they will achieve lightweight structural designs. Structural analysis software will be used to validate the performance of interlocking structures, while robotic printing tests will be conducted to evaluate deformations, shrinkage, and errors during the printing process. Design iterations will be made accordingly. Finally, participants will deploy validated design schemes onto unit components, assembling them into larger bench modules through shared interlocking interfaces.
This project aims to explore a new architectural design paradigm supported by parametric design and digital fabrication tools. In this process, the architect’s role expands from shaping form to integrating fabrication logic and algorithmic thinking at a micro scale. This approach enhances building performance and user experience on multiple levels, providing greater freedom and depth in design.

Participant Requirements:
Required: Rhino, Grasshopper, Python, Cura
Preferred: G-code, experience in computer vision algorithms
Maximum Participants: 12

 Instructor:

Bingze Li
Computational Designer & Principal at DataformLab, UK
Research Assistant at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL
MArch in Architecture, UCL

Li Bingze has long been engaged in the parametric design research of prefabricated lightweight timber and steel structures, focusing on the deep integration of architectural design and digital manufacturing. His project results have served various European prefabricated architecture enterprises and academic institutions, promoting the implementation of integrated design and manufacturing workflows. In the field of digital construction, he has extensive hands-on experience, including robotic concrete 3D printing, PLA spatial 3D printing, timber and brick structure assembly, and clay wire-cutting and sculpting. He also participates in the development of robotic tool heads and has capabilities in robotic signal communication and manufacturing process integration, dedicated to exploring the possibilities of multi-material and multi-process robotic applications in architecture.

Workshop Schedule:
1.Day1(9.12):   8:00-17:00 Workshop overview, materials and equipment briefing
2.Day2(9.13):   9:00-17:00 Concrete additive design and robotic motion programming
3.Day3(9.14):   9:00-17:00 Performance-driven surface and structural design
4.Day4(9.15):   9:00-17:00 Textured interlocking design
5.Day5(9.16):   9:00-17:00 Full-process fabrication of components
6.Day6(9.17):   9:00-17:00 Continued fabrication
7.Day7(9.18):   9:00-17:00 Continued fabrication
8.Day8(9.19):   9:00-17:00 iSMART 2025 International Conference Keynote Lectures
9.Day9(9.20):   9:00-17:00 Final presentations, workshop closing ceremony & exhibition launch