Climate context
Yazd weather studies cover temperature, humidity, wind, solar radiation, ground temperature and psychrometric conditions.
Academic project / Robotic fabrication
prinTerra
An academic proposal for an earth-based eco-camp in Yazd, connecting a mobile Cartesian 3D printer, parametric toolpaths, and environmental simulation.
Question
How can robotic earth construction and environmental simulation inform the design of a settlement in an arid climate?
Response
The team developed a mobile Cartesian printer concept alongside dome-based accommodation, printable path studies, and climate-responsive site design. My work focused on sustainability simulations and nozzle control.
Yazd
arid-climate design context
Simulation
daylight, radiation and thermal comfort studies
Nozzle control
personal contribution alongside sustainability simulations
Laboratory
physical prototype built; development later halted
01
Project and contribution
prinTerra was developed as a team project in Computational Design & Digital Fabrication at the School of Architecture, Iran University of Science and Technology, in Spring 2023.
My contribution was sustainability simulations and nozzle control. The robot design, form-finding, toolpath studies and landscape proposal presented in the project book are team outputs.
A physical laboratory prototype was built. Further development stopped because of financial constraints. The available record does not establish the prototype's exact scope, full-scale construction, or validated autonomous operation.
02
Robot, form and toolpath
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01
Mobile printer concept
A Cartesian gantry with tracked supports, a material-feed nozzle, and detailed mechanical assembly studies.
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02
Climate-responsive form
Cactus-inspired ribs and dome geometry explored through parametric alternatives and environmental simulation.
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03
Generate paths
Grasshopper and Kangaroo studies develop surface grids, opening-aware curves, and connected sinusoidal printing paths.
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04
Control deposition
Nozzle control connects the digital path with the proposed printing process. The archive does not establish production accuracy or reliability.
03
Sustainability studies
Daylight and glare
The project book compares unshaded and shaded geometries using daylight autonomy, sunlight exposure, mean illuminance and glare simulations.
Site and outdoor comfort
Radiation and UTCI studies explore excavation, dome placement and semi-domes for shaded gathering spaces.
Landscape strategy
The proposal combines windbreaks, planting, grouped units and shaded spaces. Environmental benefits remain design aims and simulation findings.
04
Project book and animations
BOOK
Original project book
67 pages · Spring 2023 · Team design, technical studies and simulation outputs. Original estimates and claims are retained as archival content.
PDF preview loads when visible
05
Evidence and development status
Laboratory prototype / halted development
A physical laboratory prototype was built, as confirmed by the contributor; development later halted because of financial constraints. The original book contains proposed capabilities, simulation outputs, and preliminary cost, material and construction-time estimates. These are not measured full-scale outcomes, independently verified performance, or certification. No claim of a completed settlement or production-ready machine is made.
06
Team and archive
Iran University of Science and Technology, School of Architecture · Computational Design & Digital Fabrication · Spring 2023. Names follow the supplied project book.
Instructor
- Dr. Morteza Rahbar Instructor
Teaching assistant
- Sajjad Eftekharzadeh Teaching assistant
Design team
- Hossein Mortazavi Team member
- Mohammad Sajad Amrolahi Team member
- Mohammad Moazeni Team member
- Behzad Maleki Asl Team member
- Mehrzad Samadi Team member
- Amir Farbod Shahverdi Team member
- Hossein Nazari Sustainability simulations & nozzle control
- Farnoush Bratlou Team member