3D Printed Planter Bricks

April 6, 2013 by

PlanterBrick_w_Plants_LR_OW

Now you can print and plant a brick.

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Planter Bricks are 3D printed concrete masonry units that double as vessels for growing plants and vegetation.

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Created by Emerging Objects, a design and research subsidiary of Rael San Fratello Architects specializing in 3D printed objects for the built environment, the bricks are “printed” with a direct digital manufacturing and rapid 3D prototyping technology, a relatively new process that enables the production of pieces that would otherwise be impossible to create by hand or require expensive machinery to produce or reproduce.

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The resulting 3D printed bricks vary in size and shape: some are angular, some curvaceous, many have different sized cavities. Assembled together they create a uniquely composed wall of plants.

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During construction, the bricks can be assembled in a load bearing cavity wall, installed as a traditional masonry curtain wall on a steel or concrete frame, combined with traditional bricks in new walls, or retrofitted for existing walls.

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Indentations in the bricks accept water much like weep holes, while a network of drip irrigation lines built into the cavity of the masonry wall irrigate the plants, the water pumped up from below or gravity fed from a cistern or water collection device on the roof.

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Edible plants and fragrant herbs with shallow root systems such as rosemary can be harvested through openings in the wall.

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As the manufacturing process requires no dies or molds, products can be mass-customized rather than mass-produced, taking advantage of the flexibility and speed computer-aided manufacturing affords and, since 3D printing minimizes waste, it is also an environmentally conscious manufacturing method.

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In addition to looking great, Planter Bricks provide a number of benefits. The plants buffer sound, help filter surrounding air, and through evapotranspiration and pollution conversion, they also aid in mediating the building’s microclimate temperature  which contributes a bit to countering the urban heat island effect.

 

24 Comments »

  1. INSPIRE-SE: arquitetura | arquiteto geek Pingback said:

    […] 05. Impressão 3D: tijolos com espaço para vegetação! […]

    — April 7, 2013 @ 07:31

  2. Mike Kennedy said:

    How does the integrity of the bricks hold up to roots? I would assume this would cause the bricks to fail much earlier than normal. Ivy roots on bricks can become a problem, why not this? Love the way it looks, just wonder about how well it will hold up.

    — April 9, 2013 @ 17:13

  3. [3D Printed Planter Bricks] | portas basculantes Pingback said:

    […] More info here: http://www.urbangardensweb.com/2013/04/06/3d-printed-planter-bricks/ […]

    — April 11, 2013 @ 09:15

  4. 3D printing – sustainable manufacturing? | Socially Responsible Design Pingback said:

    […] References: http://www.urbangardensweb.com/2013/04/06/3d-printed-planter-bricks/ http://www.3d-printing-experts.com/amazing-3d-printed-prosthetics-by-bespoke/ […]

    — July 19, 2013 @ 01:45

  5. 3D printing – sustainable manufacturing? | The Switch Report Pingback said:

    […] References: http://www.urbangardensweb.com/2013/04/06/3d-printed-planter-bricks/ http://www.3d-printing-experts.com/amazing-3d-printed-prosthetics-by-bespoke/ […]

    — August 4, 2013 @ 15:02

  6. 3D-Printed Modular Mini Planter System is Drip Irrigation For Other Plants - Urban Gardens Pingback said:

    […] is a 3D-printed modular mini planter system that you can set up in numerous easy-to-assemble configurations a bit […]

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  7. james said:

    Although I love the idea, the fact that these bricks will make climbing buildings rather easy I worry about the security implications that will arise when a criminal can access higher floors of buildings. I can also see drunks trying and falling off too. Might be worth having these set above a certain height so that this is not likely to happen

    — November 21, 2013 @ 19:51

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    […] been seriously wowed lately by many of the inventive 3D printed objects I have found, like concrete planter bricks, a mini planter system with drip irrigation, and a modular vertical garden perfect for an urban […]

    — December 11, 2013 @ 20:54

  10. 3D-Printed Modular Mini Planter System is Drip Irrigation For Other Plants | Økoko Pingback said:

    […] is a 3D-printed modular mini planter system that you can set up in numerous easy-to-assemble configurations a […]

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  13. 3d Printed Planter Bricks | Pingback said:

    […] http://www.urbangardensweb.com/2013/04/06/3d-printed-planter-bricks/ […]

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  17. 3D Printed Cabin Has Living Succulent Wall Made of Planter Tiles - Urban Gardens Pingback said:

    […] same innovative minds that brought us the 3D printed concrete planter bricks I gushed about a while back have now applied their technical and design expertise on a larger scale […]

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  18. 3D Printed Cabin Has Living Succulent Wall Made of Planter Tiles – Business World Pingback said:

    […] same innovative minds that brought us the 3D printed concrete planter bricks I gushed about a while back have now applied their technical and design expertise on a larger scale […]

    — August 16, 2019 @ 02:51

  19. Let's Ring In a New Green Decade - Urban Gardens Pingback said:

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  20. 3D Printed Cabin Has Living Succulent Wall Made of Planter Tiles – Insider Gardening Pingback said:

    […] same innovative minds that brought us the 3D printed concrete planter bricks I gushed about a while back have now applied their technical and design expertise on a larger scale […]

    — April 24, 2020 @ 09:32

  21. 3D Printed Cabin Has Living Succulent Wall Made of Planter Tiles - Insider Gardening Pingback said:

    […] same innovative minds that brought us the 3D printed concrete planter bricks I gushed about a while back have now applied their technical and design expertise on a larger scale […]

    — May 11, 2020 @ 05:29

  22. Let’s Ring In a New Green Decade - Insider Gardening Pingback said:

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  23. Let's Ring In a New Green Decade - Hood GardensHood Gardens Pingback said:

    […] 7. 3D Printed Planter Bricks […]

    — July 11, 2020 @ 16:44

  24. 3D Printed Cabin Has Living Succulent Wall Made of Planter Tiles - Bintbiz Pingback said:

    […] same innovative minds that brought us the 3D printed concrete planter bricks I gushed about a while back have now applied their technical and design expertise on a larger scale […]

    — July 21, 2021 @ 14:16

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