MIT researchers have developed a formwork for concrete buildings made from 3D-printed mud, instead of wood, which is traditionally used to create the moulds into which concrete is poured.
The process, known as EarthWorks, involves adding straw or other additives to waste soil and coating it with a wax-like substance to increase the strength of the soil’s structure.
The flexibility of the mud makes unique and complex shapes easier to create, and the technique can also help to reduce carbon emissions associated with concrete construction, as less concrete is required.
Sandy Curth, a PhD student in MIT’s Department of Architecture, who has helped to develop the technique, has also founded Forma Systems, which aims to commercialise the process.