Architecture to scale
This concrete hangar is one of twelve of Nervi's icnonic buildings that are being recreated as scale models by Materialise
Materialise is using stereo-lithography to construct 12 scale models of Italian artist, Pier Luigi Nervi’s architectural masterpieces.
As the first major exhibition devoted to Nervi’s entire career, the Brussels exhibition, entitled ‘Pier Luigi Nervi, architecture as a challenge’, will display complete models of buildings he has constructed worldwide.
It was vital to the success of the exhibition that these miniature representations demonstrate the complexity and ingenuity of each structure. To do this Materialise is using an additive manufacturing technology called Mammoth stereolithography to build models that range in size from 300 mm to 1 metre.
The technique allows the production of a component in any requested shape without manual effort and with dimensions of up to 2100 mm x 700 mm x 800 mm.
“Due to the fine layers and the high quality of the Mammoth machines, we only need to finish the models to a basic level. This allows us to keep the maximum of detail in these remarkable Nervi creations” explains Jeroen Moons, Project Manager for Materialise.
Elisabetta Margiotta Nervi, Executive of the Pier Luigi Nervi Research & Knowledge Management Project, said: “We wanted to organise an exhibition to commemorate the contribution the great contribution this renowned artist made to the world of art, engineering and architecture.
“I first met Materialise at a tradeshow in Milan and was introduced to their additive manufacturing technologies. Their futuristic ideas and the endless possibilities behind these production processes immediately reminded me of Nervi’s work. At that point it was clear that I had to collaborate with this company in order to represent Nervi’s buildings in the way he would have wanted it.”
As the client required white reproductions, a white epoxy material is used and painted white for extra protection and cosmetic reasons. After Materialise produces the structures, they will be delivered into the hands of a model maker who will add the finishing touches, such as wood roofing and tiny figures.
“It’s extremely important that the models last as the exhibition will tour for some time,” says Jeroen Moons. “We are proud that our models will be travelling the globe to countries where Nervi’s works are located and will inspire other people in their creative processes.”
Described as “the most brilliant artist of reinforced concrete of our time”, Nervi (1891-1979) succeeded in turning engineering into an art by taking simple geometry and using sophisticated prefabrication to find solutions in his buildings. Most of his structures are found in his native Italy, but his work is scattered throughout the world.
Envisioned to run for a few years, there are future plans for Materialise to build 22 models in total. After its debut in Brussels (4 June – 8 August), the exhibition will stop in Venice (29 August – 21 November) for the 12th International Architecture Exhibition, and then scheduled to visit Rome in December and North America and South America after that.
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