Striatus 3D Concrete Printed Masonry Bridge | 2021

Venice, Italy

Architects: Zaha Hadid Architects
Associate Architects: Block Research Group (BRG) at ETH Zurich and Computation and Design Group (ZHACODE)
Design (Zhacode): Jianfei Chu, Vishu Bhooshan, Henry David Louth, Shajay Bhooshan, and Patrik Schumacher
Design Team (Eth Brg): Tom Van Mele, Alessandro Dell’Endice, and Philippe Block
Structural Engineering: Tom Van Mele, Alessandro Dell’Endice, Sam Bouten, and Philippe Block
Collaborators: Holcim, incremental3D
Photographers: Naaro

Striatus is an arched masonry footbridge composed of 3D-printed concrete blocks assembled without mortar or reinforcement. The 16- x 12-meter footbridge is the first of its kind, combining traditional techniques of master builders with advanced computational design, engineering, and robotic manufacturing technologies.

Exhibited at the Giardini della Marinaressa during the Venice Architecture Biennale, Striatus has been developed by the Block Research Group (BRG) at ETH Zurich and Zaha Hadid Architects Computation and Design Group (ZHACODE), in collaboration with incremental3D (in3D) and made possible by Holcim.

Proposing a new language for concrete that is structurally informed, fabrication aware, ecologically responsible and precisely placed to build more with less, Striatus optimizes the properties of masonry structures, 3D concrete printing (3DCP), and contemporary design; presenting an alternative to traditional concrete construction.

The name “Striatus” reflects its structural logic and fabrication process. Concrete is precisely printed in layers orthogonal to the main structural forces to create a “striated” compression-only structure that requires no mortar or reinforcement. As the construction does not need mortar, the blocks can be dismantled, and the bridge reassembled at a different location. If the construction is no longer needed, the materials can simply be separated and recycled.