3D Printing with Salt
An American company, named “Emerging Objects” where the first to perform 3D printing using salt as a printing material. The product of this process is a pavilion inspired by the igloos of the Inuit. Being the first to perform this method, the whole process is like one big science experiment, with the goal of producing a large-scale structure, while remaining relatively lightweight.
Courtesy of © Emerging Objects
Being located in San Francisco Bay, works to their advantage, as the salt can be locally sourced from the bay. It’s obtained from the 109 year-old salt crystallization ponds within Redwood City. The crystals within these ponds are 8-12 inches in length, which makes for good harvesting.
Courtesy of © Emerging Objects
The benefit in using salt compared to commercial materials, for one it’s renewable and secondly it’s inexpensive.
Courtesy of © Emerging Objects
The structure uses a total number of 336 unique translucent panels, which allows for subtle lighting of the internal space. The translucency is a product of the fabrication process, with the added property of salt being naturally translucent.
Courtesy of © Emerging Objects
Anastasia Andreieva is an accomplished Architectural Projects Editor at Arch2O, bringing a unique blend of linguistic expertise and design enthusiasm to the team. Born and raised in Ukraine, she holds a Master’s degree in Languages from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Her deep passion for architecture and visual storytelling led her to transition from translation and editorial roles into the world of design media. With a keen eye for conceptual clarity and narrative structure, Anastasia curates and presents global architectural projects with precision and flair. She is particularly drawn to parametric and digital design, cultural context, and emerging voices in architecture. When I’m not analyzing the latest architectural trends, you’ll probably find me searching for hidden gems in cityscapes or appreciating the beauty of well-crafted spaces. After all, great design—like great connections—can be found in the most unexpected places. Speaking of connections, because architecture isn’t the only thing that brings people together.