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Shajay Bhooshan on Robotics and Making Construction Sustainable

Shajay Bhooshan, Associate Director at Zaha Hadid Architects and co-founder of Zaha Hadid Architects Computation & Design Research (ZHACODE) joined ‘The Robot’ podcast to speak about making construction sustainable.

Hosted by Fran Scott, Science Content Developer at the Royal Institution, ‘The Robot’ podcast aims to find out how robots are changing the world around us for the better. From food to healthcare, and education to transport – each episode sees Fran joined by an international panel of experts to explore a different area of our lives, finding out how automation is changing what’s possible and dissecting the opportunities robots are creating.

In the episode, Shajay speaks about his work on the 3D printed concrete bridge Striatus, 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 optimises 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. 

Using a special concrete ink developed by Holcim, this method of 3D concrete printing combines the principles of traditional vaulted construction with digital concrete fabrication to use material only where it is structurally necessary and eliminate waste.

As the construction does not need mortar, the blocks can be dismantled, and the bridge reassembled at different location. If the construction is no longer needed, the materials can simply be separated and recycled.

Listen to the podcast via link below.

The Robot podcast season 2, episode 2 ‘Making Construction Sustainable’