Market trends and business prospects

Commentary by David Edwards on June 17, 2021

BVN Architecture and University of Technology Sydney jointly designed what they call "the world's first robotic 3D printed air diffusion system", called "Systems Reef 2" or SR2.

SR2 reinvented air distribution: replacing steel with recycled plastic, square corners with aerodynamic curves, and large vents with fine holes.

The construction industry accounts for nearly 40% of global annual greenhouse gas emissions, and SR2 faces this problem head-on.

Compared with existing systems, it reduces embodied carbon by 90%. It is made of recycled plastic waste and can be fully recycled at the end of its useful life, embodying the principle of circular economy.

SR2 is designed to be installed in existing air-conditioning units and replace the traditional steel piping project whose design has hardly changed in the past 50 years.

Ninotschka Titchkosky, co-CEO of BVN Architecture, said that in architecture, people often pay attention to the environmental impact of building materials and structures.

“However, at BVN, we also noticed that the electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems in the building account for 33% of the total carbon cost of a typical office building,” she said.

"This means that if we are to seriously consider reducing the carbon impact of building design, we must also rethink how to transport air in the building. This new system-SR2-is actually about this. This is 3D printing air."

"98% of buildings are existing, so if we are to deal with climate change, we need to adjust and renovate our existing buildings to ensure that they remain relevant," Titchkosky said.

The present invention takes advantage of the unique characteristics of advanced manufacturing. The system adopts robot 3D printing and calculation design, which is adaptable and customizable.

“As a society, we are facing major challenges and we cannot continue to build as we do now,” said Tim Schork, associate professor at the School of Architecture at the University of Technology Sydney.

"What is needed is a fundamental reflection and a thorough transformation of our current practices. We need to develop new designs, materials and construction methods," he said.

To make these components, the team programmed industrial robots to strategically place thousands of customized pores in elongated tubes that are sewn together to create a network system.

"This design is not to discharge air regularly throughout the floor plan, but to evenly distribute air: This means that the air temperature and flow are more consistent, and no one needs to sit under the cold wind of a high-power vent," said Associate Professor Shock.

But design is not just for comfort. The unique organic curve is based on detailed computer modeling, indicating that the curve design significantly reduces energy loss and promotes air flow.

"Air does not move at right angles, so it is illogical to design an air distribution system with square corners," said Associate Professor Schork.

SR2 is a model of successful industry and university research cooperation, where everyone brings unique insights, knowledge and expertise.

"This project not only uses computing, robotics, large-scale 3D printing, and low-energy materials to change the boundaries of what buildings are possible, but also opens up a whole new research direction by envisioning new design and manufacturing methods. New architectural services," Associate Professor Xiao Ke Say.

"Only through close cooperation can we design and manufacture this unique system."

For Associate Professors Schork and Titchkosky, there is an urgent need to change existing architectural practices by using advanced technology and developing the digital design tools and manufacturing systems required to create a decarbonized architectural culture.

"We are one of the countries with the highest level of waste among the OECD countries. As architects, it is very important for us to make a positive contribution and start to influence industry change," Titchkosky said.

Submitted as follows: architecture, news tagged as: air, architecture, assistant, architecture, building, bvn, carbon, create, d print, design, existing, material, percentage, professor, recycling, schork, sr, system, system, titchkosky, unique

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