Field Research
Prototypes
Result
Cities absorb solar heat, intensifying the urban heat island effect. While moss can naturally cool these environments, it dries out and falls dormant during summer heatwaves when cooling is needed most. To address this, I designed a bioreceptive, 3D printed porous ceramic facade tile that acts as an artificial vascular system.
Engineered from custom white stoneware, the tile harvests rainwater and feeds it back to the moss via capillary action. By utilizing a custom Python pipeline to generate direct extrusion toolpaths, the resulting fractal geometries optimize water retention and support urban biodiversity. The final facade module runs significantly cooler than conventional walls, offering a passive, self-sustaining solution to urban heating.
Type: MSc Thesis, Integrated Product Design — TU Delft
Year: 2026
Materials: 3D Printed Ceramic (White Stoneware), Moss
Thesis: repository.tudelft.nl