AIRLEMENTS

Insulated Walls with Sustainable Mineral Foam

Airlements project, developed by researchers at ETH Zürich in partnership with FenX AG, employs large-scale robotic 3D printing to create monolithic, lightweight, and insulated wall systems using cement-free mineral foam crafted from recycled waste. This innovative material, with varying densities, optimizes thermal performance and energy efficiency, reducing operational energy needs for heating. The Airlements prototype showcases rapid, low-energy 3D printing, each 25 kg hollow segment hardening over a week without energyintensive processes. The technology’s versatility allows for non-structural exterior walls and seamless integration of reinforcements.

IMAGE BY: PATRICK BEDARF, DIGITAL BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES, ETH ZURICH