3D printed Burj al-Hamam at the Floriade
One of the most striking objects at the Floriade Expo 2022 in Almere is presented by Qatar: a 3D printed modern version of the Burj al-Hamam. This ‘pigeon tower’ was designed by Wittteveen+Bos & the Expo Pavillion group and printed by Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix in Eindhoven.
The 3D printed Burj al-Hamam pays tribute to the traditionally built pigeon towers in Qatar and is characterized by its special, architectural shape. The tower provides a shelter for more than a thousand pigeons during the migration season. At the same time, it provides an ecological way of farming. Thanks to the smart construction, the pigeon droppings can be collected and used as fertilizer for local farms.
The Burj al-Hamam was built without steel reinforcement or poured concrete. The 3D printed construction provides an automated way to build the design of the towers. To further reduce the CO2 footprint, Weber has significantly reduced the energy requirement of the production process and the amount of material. As a result, up to 60 percent less CO2 was emitted compared to the traditional way of building.
Credits: Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix BV