Haecceity: The Nature of Sandstone
This work looks closely at sandstone, the physical properties and texture, as well as considering how architects, stone-masons, and individuals interact with it.
This then allowed for exploration into how sandstone might be used and valued in a world where digital design & fabrication processes make possible a very different vision of the uniqueness of stone and where the craftsman’s hand is dislocated from the creative process.
The technologies of three-dimensional scanning and printing potentially herald a paradigm shift in how stone is perceived and understood.
Fabrication technology such as additive manufacturing goes beyond the dislocation of the hand from the process of creation, potentially to the point of entirely removing the human element.
“This work engages thoroughly with the meaning of contemporary digital fabrication. The study and approaches providing insight into 3D printing and scanning technologies, discussing the role of craftsmanship and the creative design process in architectural production.”
Sandstone takes the focus of this study due to recent developments in 3D printing technologies.
These developments have allowed for synthetic stone to be created via print, utilising a process similar to some powder bed printers.
This work studies the unique relationship between digital fabrication and natural materials.
The particular focus on sandstone and additive manufacturing will investigate how classical product and modern process can complement each other.