Optimising Concrete Slabs with Paper Formworks

The constant demand for new buildings means concrete continues to contribute to a large proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions. Italian architect and researcher Fabio Amicarelli, and Assistant Professor in Architecture and Guest‐Editor of this AD Ena Lloret‐Fritschi, discuss the Foldcast project being developed by the Fabrication and Material Aware Architecture (FMAA) group at the Università della Svizzera Italiana in Mendrisio. Foldcast combines software and digital machines to produce non‐standard, recyclable, paper‐based moulds for casting structurally efficient concrete elements.