This twisting tower is made out of 2,000 3D-printed terracotta bricks

A team of researchers and students from the <a href="http://www.arch.hku.hk/">HKU Faculty of Architecture </a> worked with Holger Kehne of <a href="http://www.plasmastudio.com/">Plasma Studio</a> to create a beautiful twisted tower out of 2,000 <a href="https://inhabitat.com/tag/3d-printing/">3D-printed</a> terracotta bricks. Each clay brick used to create the Ceramic Constellation Pavilion was individually printed in a unique shape or size using innovative robotic technology, which prints at a faster pace than most 3D printing machines and provides more versatility in the building process.

The design of the 12.5-foot pavilion was part of the inaugural "Robotic Architecture Series” workshop hosted by international property developer, Sino Group.

All of the materials used in the project were made in the Robotics Lab at HKU’s Faculty of Architecture.

The objective behind the project was to use test the feasibility of robotically printing terra cotta bricks, a traditional material commonly used throughout Asia.

As opposed to traditional methods, the robotic printing process means that the clay bricks can be configured into distinct shapes and densities, adding an invaluable versatility to any design process.

The team began with about 1,500 pounds of raw terracotta clay.

Using the university's innovative robotic technology with a rapid print time of 2 or 3 minutes for each brick.

It took about three weeks to print the terra cotta bricks.

The bricks were fired in an oven at 1,877 degrees Fahrenheit.

Students from the HKU Department of Architecture assembled the pavilion during the ten day workshop.

The bricks were printed by robotic technology.

Printing the bricks adds a versatility to the building materials.

The bricks were fired in an oven.

The designers were able to craft the bricks to the design specifications.

Printing the bricks added a flexibility to the design.

The tower was assembled in a 10 day workshop.

The Ceramic Constellation Pavilion was made out of 3d printed bricks.

The base of the Ceramic Constellation Pavilion.

2,000 individual bricks make up the pavilion.

The bricks' design were printed to the designer's exact specifications.

The pavilion was built by 2,000 3d printed bricks.

The twisted tower was made possible by the 3d printed terra cotta bricks.

The Ceramic Constellation Pavilion was built using 3d printed terra cotta bricks.

A team of researchers and students from the <a href="http://www.arch.hku.hk/">HKU Faculty of Architecture </a> worked with Holger Kehne of <a href="http://www....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/this-twisting-tower-is-made-out-of-2000-3d-printed-terracotta-bricks/'>READ ARTICLE</a>