In contemporary architecture, where new technologies redefine the relationship between design and construction, the Brick Towers project emerges as a pioneering experiment exploring the potential of digital printing on bricks. Designed by operadora., the installation was presented in Mexico City as part of the Mextrópoli architecture festival, transforming Plaza Santo Domingo into an urban laboratory that challenged conventional construction methods.
The core innovation of Brick Towers lies in the Image Aided Construction methodology, a system that utilizes continuously printed images on bricks to guide the assembly process, reducing the need for traditional architectural documentation. The three irregularly shaped towers that make up the installation demonstrate how a historical material like brick can be reinterpreted through digital tools, offering new solutions for contemporary construction without requiring high-end technology on-site.
Traditionally, masonry construction relies on detailed technical drawings that guide workers at every stage of assembly. However, Brick Towers proposes a different paradigm: digital printing on the bricks themselves becomes the primary guide for architectural composition. This innovation not only simplifies the construction process but also demonstrates how integrating design and technology can reduce errors and building time, increasing efficiency on-site.
The installation is not merely an aesthetic or technological exercise; Brick Towers raises crucial questions about the future of architecture and construction. What role will traditional materials play in an era dominated by automation and prefabrication? How can digital technologies improve well-established processes without disrupting them? The project offers an innovative answer, suggesting that the key to sustainable and accessible architecture does not necessarily lie in adopting complex technologies but in the intelligent reinterpretation of existing resources.
CREDITS
Project: operadora.
Studio: Brick Towers
Location: Plaza Santo Domingo, Ciudad de México, México
Year: 2024
Photo: Rocket Science Studios
