How putting the arch back in architecture could save the environment | Matthias Rippmann | TEDxBasel

so who likes doing laundry exactly

so who likes doing laundry exactly nobody really likes doing laundry and I

nobody really likes doing laundry and I

nobody really likes doing laundry and I don’t like it as well but at least it

don’t like it as well but at least it

don’t like it as well but at least it can give me a little bit of inspiration

can give me a little bit of inspiration

can give me a little bit of inspiration because whenever I hang out my socks and

because whenever I hang out my socks and

because whenever I hang out my socks and underwear on a clothesline I can see a

underwear on a clothesline I can see a

underwear on a clothesline I can see a really cool design for a new structure I

really cool design for a new structure I

really cool design for a new structure I know that sounds a bit weird because a

know that sounds a bit weird because a

know that sounds a bit weird because a clothesline

clothesline

clothesline that’s usually a good way to dry your

that’s usually a good way to dry your

that’s usually a good way to dry your clothes but you can also look at this

clothes but you can also look at this

clothes but you can also look at this differently because the hanging shape of

differently because the hanging shape of

differently because the hanging shape of a clothesline the inverted shape of it

a clothesline the inverted shape of it

a clothesline the inverted shape of it forms the perfect arch and compression

forms the perfect arch and compression

forms the perfect arch and compression and archers in architecture are super

and archers in architecture are super

and archers in architecture are super efficient structures so let’s design one

efficient structures so let’s design one

efficient structures so let’s design one let’s take your clothesline or any

let’s take your clothesline or any

let’s take your clothesline or any flexible hole rope or hanging chain and

flexible hole rope or hanging chain and

flexible hole rope or hanging chain and yet you hang it between two points you

yet you hang it between two points you

yet you hang it between two points you trace this shape and then you simply

trace this shape and then you simply

trace this shape and then you simply flip it upside down and that’s it that’s

flip it upside down and that’s it that’s

flip it upside down and that’s it that’s a perfect arch in compression and

a perfect arch in compression and

a perfect arch in compression and archers are super efficient structures

archers are super efficient structures

archers are super efficient structures because they use material effectively

because they use material effectively

because they use material effectively and only where you really need it but of

and only where you really need it but of

and only where you really need it but of course this principle is not new it has

course this principle is not new it has

course this principle is not new it has been known for hundreds of years and

been known for hundreds of years and

been known for hundreds of years and people were building amazing structures

people were building amazing structures

people were building amazing structures using this principle still standing

using this principle still standing

using this principle still standing today in compression and forming a

today in compression and forming a

today in compression and forming a perfect arch and when I looked at this

perfect arch and when I looked at this

perfect arch and when I looked at this structure for the very first time is

structure for the very first time is

structure for the very first time is amazing fan walls of the Kings College I

amazing fan walls of the Kings College I

amazing fan walls of the Kings College I thought this is incredibly beautiful but

thought this is incredibly beautiful but

thought this is incredibly beautiful but at the same time I also thought this

at the same time I also thought this

at the same time I also thought this stone ceiling it must be incredibly

stone ceiling it must be incredibly

stone ceiling it must be incredibly massive and heavy

massive and heavy

massive and heavy well in fact it’s not because what you

well in fact it’s not because what you

well in fact it’s not because what you see the stone structure its

see the stone structure its

see the stone structure its proportionately as thin as an actual

proportionately as thin as an actual

proportionately as thin as an actual isn’t it amazing you can build up stones

isn’t it amazing you can build up stones

isn’t it amazing you can build up stones in space and it’s it’s thin

in space and it’s it’s thin

in space and it’s it’s thin proportionately as an eggshell so I find

proportionately as an eggshell so I find

proportionately as an eggshell so I find this really amazing and inspiring and I

this really amazing and inspiring and I

this really amazing and inspiring and I know that this man was inspired by these

know that this man was inspired by these

know that this man was inspired by these structures as well

his name is Heinz Easler an amazing

his name is Heinz Easler an amazing Swiss engineer and I don’t know if he

Swiss engineer and I don’t know if he

Swiss engineer and I don’t know if he himself was hanging out his laundry on

himself was hanging out his laundry on

himself was hanging out his laundry on the clothesline but I know that he was

the clothesline but I know that he was

the clothesline but I know that he was hanging out wet sheets on really cold

hanging out wet sheets on really cold

hanging out wet sheets on really cold days in his garden in Switzerland and

days in his garden in Switzerland and

days in his garden in Switzerland and then he waited for them to freeze to be

then he waited for them to freeze to be

then he waited for them to freeze to be able to flip them upside down and then

able to flip them upside down and then

able to flip them upside down and then he looked at these shapes and discovered

he looked at these shapes and discovered

he looked at these shapes and discovered new forms for buildings he built all

new forms for buildings he built all

new forms for buildings he built all over Switzerland

over Switzerland

over Switzerland did you ever pass by this service

did you ever pass by this service

did you ever pass by this service station on your way to Bern

station on your way to Bern

station on your way to Bern exactly that was sim that was sounds

exactly that was sim that was sounds

exactly that was sim that was sounds Easler in the 60s and you look at it and

Easler in the 60s and you look at it and

Easler in the 60s and you look at it and you immediately get it it looks like an

you immediately get it it looks like an

you immediately get it it looks like an eggshell it’s incredibly thin so using a

eggshell it’s incredibly thin so using a

eggshell it’s incredibly thin so using a hanging shape than word shape of it in

hanging shape than word shape of it in

hanging shape than word shape of it in compression is a really efficient way to

compression is a really efficient way to

compression is a really efficient way to save materials and to work with

save materials and to work with

save materials and to work with materials effectively but that is not

materials effectively but that is not

materials effectively but that is not the only aspect which interests me

the only aspect which interests me

the only aspect which interests me because the structures I am showing to

because the structures I am showing to

because the structures I am showing to you are for me also really exciting and

you are for me also really exciting and

you are for me also really exciting and these forms are very unique so I want to

these forms are very unique so I want to

these forms are very unique so I want to explore more but today I don’t need to

explore more but today I don’t need to

explore more but today I don’t need to hang out my clothes on a clothesline or

hang out my clothes on a clothesline or

hang out my clothes on a clothesline or I need to build complicated models with

I need to build complicated models with

I need to build complicated models with wet sheets and chains I can actually use

wet sheets and chains I can actually use

wet sheets and chains I can actually use computers and software and explore and

computers and software and explore and

computers and software and explore and discover thousands of shapes

discover thousands of shapes

discover thousands of shapes interactively in no time and the block

interactively in no time and the block

interactively in no time and the block research group at ETH Zurich we do

research group at ETH Zurich we do

research group at ETH Zurich we do exactly that we develop tools to then

exactly that we develop tools to then

exactly that we develop tools to then design and build novel shapes

design and build novel shapes

design and build novel shapes and sometimes this research also

and sometimes this research also

and sometimes this research also involves to build a tiny hobbit house

involves to build a tiny hobbit house

involves to build a tiny hobbit house and this is what we did in the woods at

and this is what we did in the woods at

and this is what we did in the woods at ETH and then we wanted to know how

ETH and then we wanted to know how

ETH and then we wanted to know how strong this structure actually is so we

strong this structure actually is so we

strong this structure actually is so we did this we put some weight on it so we

did this we put some weight on it so we

did this we put some weight on it so we put 3.5 tonnes of sandbags on top of it

put 3.5 tonnes of sandbags on top of it

put 3.5 tonnes of sandbags on top of it and then we were waiting to see what’s

and then we were waiting to see what’s

and then we were waiting to see what’s going to happen and what happened

going to happen and what happened

going to happen and what happened well absolutely nothing we couldn’t see

well absolutely nothing we couldn’t see

well absolutely nothing we couldn’t see any crack we couldn’t measure any

any crack we couldn’t measure any

any crack we couldn’t measure any deformation because even though we were

deformation because even though we were

deformation because even though we were just using simple bricks the good

just using simple bricks the good

just using simple bricks the good structural geometry made this structure

structural geometry made this structure

structural geometry made this structure so incredibly strong so to continue with

so incredibly strong so to continue with

so incredibly strong so to continue with our testing we needed to then move to

our testing we needed to then move to

our testing we needed to then move to slightly more drastic measures and this

slightly more drastic measures and this

slightly more drastic measures and this is what we did so that was fun and it

is what we did so that was fun and it

is what we did so that was fun and it really brings back good memories but you

really brings back good memories but you

really brings back good memories but you don’t stop there right you want to fully

don’t stop there right you want to fully

don’t stop there right you want to fully extend and push the limits of this idea

extend and push the limits of this idea

extend and push the limits of this idea so we built an extreme stone wall

so we built an extreme stone wall

so we built an extreme stone wall it spans 60 meters in the middle it’s

it spans 60 meters in the middle it’s

it spans 60 meters in the middle it’s only five centimeters thick and it’s

only five centimeters thick and it’s

only five centimeters thick and it’s extreme because what you’re looking at

extreme because what you’re looking at

extreme because what you’re looking at is basically a 3d puzzle of 399

is basically a 3d puzzle of 399

is basically a 3d puzzle of 399 limestone blocks balanced in space in

limestone blocks balanced in space in

limestone blocks balanced in space in compression following a good shape but

compression following a good shape but

compression following a good shape but there’s no glue there’s no mortar there

there’s no glue there’s no mortar there

there’s no glue there’s no mortar there are no connection between these stones

are no connection between these stones

are no connection between these stones it’s basically just one stone pressing

it’s basically just one stone pressing

it’s basically just one stone pressing against the other and I loved working on

against the other and I loved working on

against the other and I loved working on that project because for me it shows the

that project because for me it shows the

that project because for me it shows the concept of good structural geometry in a

concept of good structural geometry in a

concept of good structural geometry in a truly elegant way and through this

truly elegant way and through this

truly elegant way and through this through this demonstrator and it’s

through this demonstrator and it’s

through this demonstrator and it’s elegance I’m hopeful that we can also

elegance I’m hopeful that we can also

elegance I’m hopeful that we can also inspire others but for this inspiration

inspire others but for this inspiration

inspire others but for this inspiration to also become a source for future

to also become a source for future

to also become a source for future action we need to share our methods what

action we need to share our methods what

action we need to share our methods what purpose is an idea

purpose is an idea

purpose is an idea if nobody else can really access it so

if nobody else can really access it so

if nobody else can really access it so make it accessible and able people and

make it accessible and able people and

make it accessible and able people and this is what we do in our research we

this is what we do in our research we

this is what we do in our research we develop tools but then we also freely

develop tools but then we also freely

develop tools but then we also freely share them with architects and engineers

share them with architects and engineers

share them with architects and engineers and designers so that they can build

and designers so that they can build

and designers so that they can build their own structures when we release the

their own structures when we release the

their own structures when we release the tool freely

tool freely

tool freely it’s called Rhino walls a few years ago

it’s called Rhino walls a few years ago

it’s called Rhino walls a few years ago it started with a few projects here and

it started with a few projects here and

it started with a few projects here and there and then it really bloomed all

there and then it really bloomed all

there and then it really bloomed all around the world and it was inspiring to

around the world and it was inspiring to

around the world and it was inspiring to see how people picked up that idea and

see how people picked up that idea and

see how people picked up that idea and brought it further and developed all

brought it further and developed all

brought it further and developed all these exciting structures and even real

these exciting structures and even real

these exciting structures and even real buildings but still the question remains

buildings but still the question remains

buildings but still the question remains where can you really make a difference

where can you really make a difference

where can you really make a difference because we don’t see these structures

because we don’t see these structures

because we don’t see these structures very often what we see out there in

very often what we see out there in

very often what we see out there in construction is this massive

construction is this massive

construction is this massive developments popping up all over the

developments popping up all over the

developments popping up all over the world because we need them we are

world because we need them we are

world because we need them we are growing but the number of these

growing but the number of these

growing but the number of these developments that is not the core issue

developments that is not the core issue

developments that is not the core issue the problem is the material we use to

the problem is the material we use to

the problem is the material we use to build them to give you an example for

build them to give you an example for

build them to give you an example for all new construction work in the world

all new construction work in the world

all new construction work in the world we consume approximately nine billion

we consume approximately nine billion

we consume approximately nine billion tons of concrete every single year 9

tons of concrete every single year 9

tons of concrete every single year 9 billion tons so what does this even mean

billion tons so what does this even mean

billion tons so what does this even mean it’s an incredibly high number I give

it’s an incredibly high number I give

it’s an incredibly high number I give you an example so you would use all this

you an example so you would use all this

you an example so you would use all this concrete and we would built a 20

concrete and we would built a 20

concrete and we would built a 20 centimeter thick wall with all this

centimeter thick wall with all this

centimeter thick wall with all this material and this wall would run the

material and this wall would run the

material and this wall would run the full length all around the equator this

full length all around the equator this

full length all around the equator this wall would be 500 meters tall a 500

wall would be 500 meters tall a 500

wall would be 500 meters tall a 500 meter tall wall running all around the

meter tall wall running all around the

meter tall wall running all around the world and we built this every year that

world and we built this every year that

world and we built this every year that is a lot of material and we should do

is a lot of material and we should do

is a lot of material and we should do something about it

something about it

something about it so why not start with using material

so why not start with using material

so why not start with using material where you really need it so why not

where you really need it so why not

where you really need it so why not replacing for example these massive

replacing for example these massive

replacing for example these massive floors consuming so much concrete and

floors consuming so much concrete and

floors consuming so much concrete and steel with something lighter and more

steel with something lighter and more

steel with something lighter and more efficient so why not replacing them with

efficient so why not replacing them with

efficient so why not replacing them with an arch an arch and

an arch an arch and

an arch an arch and I dove a floor and this is what we

I dove a floor and this is what we

I dove a floor and this is what we developed the white prototype you see in

developed the white prototype you see in

developed the white prototype you see in the middle and you see best that it

the middle and you see best that it

the middle and you see best that it contains an arch if we slice it open and

contains an arch if we slice it open and

contains an arch if we slice it open and the great thing about it it is is that

the great thing about it it is is that

the great thing about it it is is that it consumes 70% less material if we

it consumes 70% less material if we

it consumes 70% less material if we compare this to a conventional floor and

compare this to a conventional floor and

compare this to a conventional floor and even if we compare it to floors with

even if we compare it to floors with

even if we compare it to floors with hollow cores so that is a huge impact

hollow cores so that is a huge impact

hollow cores so that is a huge impact but the prototype I am showing to you

but the prototype I am showing to you

but the prototype I am showing to you does not even contain any concrete in

does not even contain any concrete in

does not even contain any concrete in fact it is made out of sand or more

fact it is made out of sand or more

fact it is made out of sand or more specifically 3d printed sand and 3d

specifically 3d printed sand and 3d

specifically 3d printed sand and 3d printing is pretty cool for many reasons

printing is pretty cool for many reasons

printing is pretty cool for many reasons but for us most importantly because we

but for us most importantly because we

but for us most importantly because we can now add material exactly where we

can now add material exactly where we

can now add material exactly where we need it and this is something which is

need it and this is something which is

need it and this is something which is impossible if you use traditional

impossible if you use traditional

impossible if you use traditional concrete casting techniques so now we

concrete casting techniques so now we

concrete casting techniques so now we can print layer by layer complex

can print layer by layer complex

can print layer by layer complex structures just using sand a binder and

structures just using sand a binder and

structures just using sand a binder and this machine and this added complexity

this machine and this added complexity

this machine and this added complexity does not come with added costs this is a

does not come with added costs this is a

does not come with added costs this is a sample piece of this material 3d printed

sample piece of this material 3d printed

sample piece of this material 3d printed sand so it’s basically just sand glued

sand so it’s basically just sand glued

sand so it’s basically just sand glued together

together

together so that doesn’t sound very strong in

so that doesn’t sound very strong in

so that doesn’t sound very strong in fact I can’t compress it I could even

fact I can’t compress it I could even

fact I can’t compress it I could even stand on that easily but as soon as I

stand on that easily but as soon as I

stand on that easily but as soon as I bend it now you see it breaks as easy as

bend it now you see it breaks as easy as

bend it now you see it breaks as easy as a bar of dark chocolate so that is a

a bar of dark chocolate so that is a

a bar of dark chocolate so that is a really weak material so this is a little

really weak material so this is a little

really weak material so this is a little bit scary sand glued together and you’re

bit scary sand glued together and you’re

bit scary sand glued together and you’re supposed to stand on that well

supposed to stand on that well

supposed to stand on that well the thing is and the good news is that

the thing is and the good news is that

the thing is and the good news is that can take quite a load in fact it can

can take quite a load in fact it can

can take quite a load in fact it can take half of our team or approximately

take half of our team or approximately

take half of our team or approximately one ton of nerds and it could even take

one ton of nerds and it could even take

one ton of nerds and it could even take twice as many nerds and it’s just sand

twice as many nerds and it’s just sand

twice as many nerds and it’s just sand you’re standing on it so a good

you’re standing on it so a good

you’re standing on it so a good structural geometry an arch allows you

structural geometry an arch allows you

structural geometry an arch allows you to work with weak materials and that

to work with weak materials and that

to work with weak materials and that opens up opportunities how we build

opens up opportunities how we build

opens up opportunities how we build today but this is not only applicable to

today but this is not only applicable to

today but this is not only applicable to a high tech context as here in

a high tech context as here in

a high tech context as here in Switzerland where all these technology

Switzerland where all these technology

Switzerland where all these technology is available it is also applicable its

is available it is also applicable its

is available it is also applicable its principal in a low tech context where

principal in a low tech context where

principal in a low tech context where these technologies are not available and

these technologies are not available and

these technologies are not available and where sometimes not even concrete and

where sometimes not even concrete and

where sometimes not even concrete and steel available so when we worked on a

steel available so when we worked on a

steel available so when we worked on a project in Africa we looked for

project in Africa we looked for

project in Africa we looked for resources that are easily available and

resources that are easily available and

resources that are easily available and that was local natural materials and

that was local natural materials and

that was local natural materials and local labor so we took these soya

local labor so we took these soya

local labor so we took these soya pressed tile an extremely weak material

pressed tile an extremely weak material

pressed tile an extremely weak material and then together with locals

and then together with locals

and then together with locals we built a floor system a simple one

we built a floor system a simple one

we built a floor system a simple one following an arch so if two ideas for

following an arch so if two ideas for

following an arch so if two ideas for floor using two different material

floor using two different material

floor using two different material systems in two totally different

systems in two totally different

systems in two totally different contexts but following the same

contexts but following the same

contexts but following the same principle

so where do we go from here and I don’t

so where do we go from here and I don’t claim to know the answer but I know

claim to know the answer but I know

claim to know the answer but I know where we started so we started with a

where we started so we started with a

where we started so we started with a simple arch this simple almost forgotten

simple arch this simple almost forgotten

simple arch this simple almost forgotten idea and then we took this idea and

idea and then we took this idea and

idea and then we took this idea and carried it into the future to combine it

carried it into the future to combine it

carried it into the future to combine it with modern tools and technology so

with modern tools and technology so

with modern tools and technology so through this we’re kind of combining the

through this we’re kind of combining the

through this we’re kind of combining the past with the future and through the

past with the future and through the

past with the future and through the studies and projects and prototypes I

studies and projects and prototypes I

studies and projects and prototypes I showed I’m hopeful that we can instigate

showed I’m hopeful that we can instigate

showed I’m hopeful that we can instigate a change that we can instigate a change

a change that we can instigate a change

a change that we can instigate a change to less wasteful and more appropriate

to less wasteful and more appropriate

to less wasteful and more appropriate and also more exciting ways of building

and also more exciting ways of building

and also more exciting ways of building today with a little help from geometry

today with a little help from geometry

today with a little help from geometry and laundry along the way thank you

and laundry along the way thank you

and laundry along the way thank you [Applause]