SuperMaterial is a major public exhibition by The Built Environment Trust in London which will explore the idea of “healthy cities”.

Are we already experiencing the next industrial revolution? SuperMaterial is an exhibition which sets out to prove that we are.

Some of the questions and concepts the show will explore include: “Can buildings self-repair? Is graphene really a game-changer? Will electricity-generating materials save the planet?”

Lewis Blackwell is the curator of the exhibition on display at the Building Centre in Bloomsbury, London. The major public exhibition by The Built Environment Trust is “celebrating the essential, and often hidden, elements of our surroundings.”

Of course, one such exhibit on display is the 3D printed Digital Grotesque. This is the world’s first 3D printed room which stands at an impressive 3.2 meters high, 16 meters square. Swiss architect Michael Hansmeyer is behind the print, which was created using sand and resin in 2013. 

Now it’s on display at the SuperMaterial show, it plays an important part in showing how new technology can create a healthy city. Blackwell said Digital Grotesque was “pushing the boundaries of technology”.

Check out the video from 2013 of Digital Grotesque to get some insight into the architectural ideas behind it:

SuperMaterial and the Healthy Cities of the Future

Blackwell is positive about the uses of 3D printing. He says:

“We do use these printers increasingly for doing sculptural pieces or restoration so if you’ve got a gargoyle on a cathedral that is falling off and needs to be replaced then you can copy the original without having to carve in stone.”

Along with Digital Grotesque, other exhibits include glass bricks which can be stronger than concrete. Eventually, the hope is that they could be used in construction and replace steel bars.

“It is remarkable how we can re-engineer our cities to have very healthy cities,” adds Blackwell. “Cities don’t have to be unhealthy.”

The aim of the show is to explore both academia and science to show some of the latest lab discoveries. Hopefully, viewers will learn how new technologies and science can change the world while transforming buildings of the future.

As well as futuristic ideas, the project also wants to show how historical application of past “super materials” shape our urban fabric right now.

Sounds interesting? You can find the extensive event programme on the SuperMaterial page. Also, make sure to follow @buildingcentre or check #SuperMaterial for updates.

Source: Evening Standard