Salt House: Sustainable, Semi-Transparent 3D-Printed Structure

Thousands of pore-like 3D-printed structures made of a salt and concrete mix are built up into the walls of a highly unusual house devised by architecture firm Emerging Objects. ‘3D Printed House 1.0’ combines traditional construction methods with 3D printing, using renewable, locally procured materials.

Commissioned by the Jin Hai Lake Resort in Beijing, this ultramodern salt house is partially enclosed within a more conventional shell, the amorphous, organic salt-based shapes rising up from the roof like strange chimneys to bring in natural light.

The semi-transparent 3D-printed components are made of a salt polymer called ‘saltygloo.’ Emerging Objects created a 1:1 model of ‘Salt Volume’ to put the characteristics of this material on display.

Each individual oculus is supported on the back end by a grid of geometric shapes, with an opening varying in size depending on how bright and private that particular area of the house is desired to be. It’s unclear whether these structures, remaining open on the exterior, would end up offering a tempting place for all sorts of creatures to take up residence.