A game changer in architecture

Modular bunkers at the NATO airport in Čáslav, a checkpoint for the Ukrainian army, a roof terrace in an apartment complex or benches in the Jihlava Zoo. These are some of the projects in ICE Coral print farm’s portfolio, a project by ICE Industrial Services. It aims to transform the construction industry and make projects cheaper and faster. “Thanks to 3D printing, we are able to design architecture that would be either very expensive or almost impossible using traditional methods,” says Jiří Vítek, head of the architectural team.

3D printing is not unheard of in the construction industry. What makes your work unique?

Unlike other 3D-printing projects in the world, ICE employs an extremely comprehensive approach to 3D printing. It’s not just about printer development, but material development too. The material is based on standard concrete from a typical concrete plant but we mix it with specially designed additives which enable us to use local resources. Another key factor is our print data preparation software, which contains a very complex environment from slicing to making print campaigns and evaluating them. Last but not least, it’s about using this new technology to develop architecture. We are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, even in terms of objects.

And if we were to compare 3D printing with conventional industrial production?

The biggest paradigm shift is definitely adapting the product to the client’s requirements. The classic curve of mass production, where each additional copy is cheaper and it pays to have a thousand identical pieces, no longer applies. With 3D printing, each product is unique, so it’s possible to adapt it to the customer’s wishes without significantly increasing the price. Another aspect is the work itself – automation will eventually make the heavy work redundant and people will be able to focus more on creative and specialized activities. For example, in our company, former bricklayers essentially become ‘artists’, engaging in less demanding manual activities such as smoothing out the edges of the print with a brush to make them perfect.

You said that 3D printing pushes the boundaries of construction and architecture. What makes it so revolutionary?

3D printing enables us to design architecture that would be either very expensive or almost impossible using traditional methods. Take our Between Conflicts pavilion at Designblok 2022, for example, which was recently nominated for the Czech Architecture Award. Its walls are decorated with designs based on AI-generated images of Ukrainian children hidden in a forest, painted by Gustav Klimt and Alfons Mucha. Speed is another game changer. We printed a facility building for SKANSKA on a roof terrace and it was completed in two hours, on site. If we add in the design and data preparation time, we are able to receive an assignment on Monday and print the finished product by Friday.

We will print energy-efficient homes and schools.

Speaking of your projects, what else have you printed?

In addition to the project for SKANSKA and the pavilion at Designblok, which will now be relocated to a castle in Žďár nad Sázavou, we have also printed two fully functional bunkers for the ammunition depot at the NATO airport in Čáslav. We have also printed a modular checkpoint for Ukraine and last year we printed a set of unique benches with lemur and tiger motifs for Jihlava Zoo. Last year, we also tested on-site printing, a small house. This year, we want to make a modular version and continue to prototype on-site printing. In the JUST Jimramov guesthouse, we have printed benches and tables with a unique design. During the Architecture Festival in Brno, we introduced the 1:1 module for the Chapel of Closeness which we would love to build this year.

How can your method help in terms of social responsibility? What is your biggest dream?

Considering the current housing crisis and how slowly houses are built, our technology could be a game changer. Of course, we also have concepts that develop the ecological, economic, and participatory level so that we behave responsibly towards the environment and society. In addition to residential projects, we are also working with schools, including innovative teaching methods and environmental projects. We are looking forward to a set of buildings, which internally we're calling ‘Cluster’. It’s based on high-quality architecture that connects efficiently to the landscape and nature. Our active houses will be able to conserve, store, and use their energy efficiently. They will feature smart and pleasant shared areas that also provide enough privacy.

ICE Industrial Services

This company specializes in designing, upgrading, and manufacturing new machines mainly for the automotive, mechanical engineering, metallurgical, and woodworking industries, among others. It is a European leader in industrial automation.