Introduction
Lamella is a proposed shading system for NEOM in Saudi Arabia: repeatable units that line paths and shade open ground, each with a 3D printed concrete trunk, a UV-resistant polymer canopy and a steel frame.
Variation Through Printing
Because the trunks are 3D printed, each unit can be shaped for where it stands.
The trunks are printed with grooves for the CNC-bent steel pipes. The grooves are designed to speed up assembly and hold the pipes in place.
As a repeatable family of units, Lamella could cover large areas or line long paths, each unit varying in form as trees in a grove do.
Materiality & Structure
The trunk, designed as the structural backbone, would be fabricated in 3D printed concrete. Printing lets the trunk take a precise, complex form without formwork.
The canopy, designed after crown shyness, the gaps that form between the crowns of neighboring trees, is 3D printed in a UV-resistant polymer chosen to last in sun and weather. A steel frame connects the trunk and the canopy.
Taken Apart, Built Again
Each unit is designed to be modular, so it can be taken apart and rebuilt elsewhere instead of being demolished. The canopy is designed to carry photovoltaic (PV) panels that would power lighting built into each unit.