Diamanti: 3D-Printed, Post-Tensioned Concrete Canopy, Dr. Masoud Akbarzadeh

This academia–industry collaborative project, Diamanti canopy, demonstrates the design and fabrication of a combined compression and tension funicular canopy with periodic anticlastic, diamond surfaces. The canopy is a part of the European Cultural Centre’s 2024 biennial exhibition, ‘Personal Structures’, in Venice, Italy, at the Giardini della Marinaressa. Utilizing both 3D concrete printing (3DCP) and post-tensioning technologies, the canopy spans 10m and is supported by a cross-laminated timber (CLT) platform. The structural form of this composite canopy directly considers both compressive and tensile forces, inherently developed in concrete structural systems, by distributing loads through its unique, minimal-mass geometry. The CLT platform suggests how the combination of a carbon-negative material and concrete can be used in contrast to common construction methods where concrete is typically used as the load-bearing support and wood as the spanning element. Hence, the lightweight design of the Diamanti canopy, spanning over and supported by the CLT platform, showcases the innovative use of these materials, while also satisfying the Venice Port Authority’s installation requirements.

The exhibited canopy goes beyond compression only by embracing tension as an unavoidable force in systems resilient to different loading scenarios. Hence, a combined form-finding and fabrication approach was developed to achieve the innovative structure with the intention of also minimizing carbon through reduced materials and recyclability. Through the design freedom enabled by the design approach, 3DCP, and the use of post-tensioning, the final design favorably has minimal reinforcement while achieving the desired structural performance. Overall, the Diamanti canopy demonstrates how, through the combination of modern technologies and the development of a non-restrictive, comprehensive design approach, new structural forms can be achieved that lead to enhanced sustainable practices.