I had a thought about how 3DCP architecture may play out.
3DCP is an increasingly popular method of building structures. Robotic or gantry motion systems deposit concrete in layers to build up a structure. It’s been used in many building projects around the world, some of which now can reach more than one storey in height.
The structures made with 3DCP have some constraints due to the nature of 3DCP equipment, but most developments have been rather conventional in design. Often you will see 3D printed homes looking quite a bit similar to regular not-3D printed homes.
I always thought that 3D printing frees the designer from the usual constraints. This has certainly been the case in part manufacturing using metal or polymer 3D printing. “Impossible” parts are now routinely produced and even used in critical applications.
But in the case of structure design using 3DCP technology, what style should be used? Would it be a new style that hasn’t previously existed?
There are plenty of options if you look at a list of architectural styles that have been used in history, including classical, Gothic, Baroque, Victorian, Art Deco, Bauhaus, postmodern, deconstructivist, etc.
But there’s one architectural style that screams loudly when it comes to 3DCP tech: Brutalist.
Brutalist architecture is defined by bold, heavy forms, raw exposed concrete, and a strong sense of mass and permanence. It often uses simple geometric shapes, deep shadows, repetitive structural elements, and minimal decoration, letting the material and construction method become the visual statement. The style can feel severe or fortress-like, but also powerful, honest, and monumental, especially when used for civic buildings, universities, cultural institutions, or experimental housing.
You’ve almost certainly come across Brutalist buildings in your life. You may even be in one as you’re reading this post. Here’s an example of a large Brutalist building, the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building in Washington DC:
The “raw exposed concrete” is what links directly to 3DCP. That’s precisely how 3DCP works, and clearly 3DCP could be used to produce buildings in the Brutalist style.
Of course, a printer can be used to create objects in any style you want, so long as it’s compatible with the technical capabilities. But if building designers are looking for a style that seems to match the technology, Brutalist could be a good start.
