3D Printed Terracotta Bricks Steal the Spotlight at Chelsea Flower Show

The Nurturing Garden at the World Child Cancer center in the UK won the inaugural Environmental Innovation Award at the Chelsea Flower Show, in part for its use of 3D printed clay to replace concrete.

The making of concrete is a significant contributor to greenhouse gases. Terracotta, on the other hand, can be considered a more sustainable material, particularly because of its lower energy consumption and emissions during production, as well as its natural raw materials and potential for reuse and biodegradability.

The 3D printed perforated clay blocks were used to support circular raised beds that feature a diverse collection of soft-touch plants, fragrant herbs, and vibrant mosses, while the lower raised beds cultivate edible plants.

Italian landscape designer and gardener Giulio Giorgi partnered with 3D printer maker WASP to create the unprecedented 3D printed sensory ceramic garden in collaboration with the cancer center.

The construction of the garden is made with low-carbon materials and no concrete or metal, and without the use of any power tools. The challenge was to create a garden concept that could be easily replicated and adapted to different environmental and climatic contexts, allowing it to be reproduced near any hospital where the World Child Cancer project operates, such as Africa and Bangladesh.

The stackable terracotta modules, that hook together like Legos, were designed by Giorgi and Giuseppe Fallacara of the Polytechnic University of Bari, Italy, allowing for full customization and easy relocation within the garden.

The terracotta bricks can be used for walls or as planters and the material is healthy for plant roots, says Giorgi, because it can absorb humidity and release it when conditions are dry.

WASP, which makes a wide range of polymer and construction 3D printers used its clay 3D printing farm located in Italy to produced more than 600 of the blocks in less than two months. This massive ceramic manufacture was made possible by WASP 40100 Production, the automated system for customized serial production that enables 24/7 printing.

WASP plans to make its ceramic modules available to purchase at its online shop.

Other aspects of the garden that contribute to it sustainability include:

• Sustainable and peat-free soils are used, and carefully selected plants that will be hardy, resistant and drought resistant
• The watering system installed at the garden will be through traditional clay devices called ‘ollas', which is a low-tech system with no need for water pressure nor electricity to ensure water wastage is minimal and at its most effective
• Keyhole gardens are designed with a central composting basket that not only enriches the soil, encourages organisms and reduces water use
• Raised beds are designed to fit together like a modular-block system requiring no concrete or chemical glues in their assembly
• Any leftover bricks from the raised beds will be crushed and recycled to find a second life as part of a smooth, guiding garden path
• All plants in the garden will be sourced from the UK