Sandwaves: A 3D-Printed Sand Pavilion in Riyadh

Exterior design · Experimental fabrication · Riyadh · 2019

Sandwaves is a public architectural installation made from 58 sand-printed modules at Diriyah Season in Riyadh. Designed by Mamou-Mani and Studio Precht, the project brought together digital form-finding, local materials and a collaborative fabrication team that included Fab.Pub.

Geometry built around forces and place

The curved, perforated modules form a sequence of sheltered passages and gathering areas. Their structural lattice responds to material forces while referencing patterns in palm trees, desert dunes and local architectural traditions. The 3D-printed sand-and-resin pieces were produced near the site, rather than in Fab.Pub’s London workshop, and assembled over a supporting framework.

Fab.Pub contributed to the wider project delivery alongside Mamou-Mani, Studio Precht, Design Lab Experience, Format Engineering and local production partners. The project demonstrates the potential of a shared computational model to connect creative design, structural intelligence and regionally appropriate fabrication methods.

Making with available resources

Sandwaves explored a form of large-scale additive manufacturing using sand and a furan-based binder, connecting architectural experimentation with material choices rooted in the region. It remains a useful reference for the collaborative making of ambitious public installations.

Credits

Design: Mamou-Mani Architects and Studio Precht
Project curation: Design Lab Experience / Diriyah Season
Fab.Pub team: Giovanni Panico and Holly Hawkins
Structural engineering: Format Engineering
Production: Local sand 3D printing and site partners

Read the full Mamou-Mani project and gallery, or speak to Fab.Pub about a large-scale project.