3D printed glass - experimental model, 1:20

The purpose of creating this experimental 3D-printed glass model was to conduct a comparative analysis and demonstrate alternative construction techniques using glass while also highlighting variations in visual appearance, aesthetics, and transparency. The Qaammat pavilion was built with solid casted glass blocks that were handcrafted in a traditional way by the Murano-based glass manufacturer WonderGlass. Each block was cast in a metal mould that imparts a textured surface that creates variability in the reflections of the surroundings. The intention of the experimental glass model was not to replicate the block system employed in the construction of the Qaammat but rather to explore different aesthetics characterised by layers, patterns, and a surface amenable to 3D printing.

For this model I created a unique specialized gcode and a digital instrument that allowed for the examination of a variety of layer styles and printing patterns over the original geometry.

The experimental model was displayed as part of the Qaammat pavilion’s process materials during the 2023 Venice Glass Week.