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Very interesting fractal like objects, built by layers of cardboard or plastic, this is the link to his web site:


http://www.michael-hansmeyer.com/projects/projects.html?screenSize=1&color=1

Introduction

Architecture stands at an inflection point. The confluence of advances in both computation and fabrication technologies offers architects the possibility of designing and constructing hitherto unimaginable forms.

With increases in processing power, the roughly triangulated geometries and simple blobs of the early 2000's have given way to the possibility of complex geometries at multiple scales with details approaching the threshold of human visibility. In parallel, advances in additive manufacturing technologies have put us at the verge of printing any form. Recent machines with print spaces of many cubic meters make it possible to print not only small architectural models, but full-scale architectural components. As a result, a form with a few million surfaces is as easy to print as a form with a few dozen.

For the first time, complexity is not an impediment to design and fabrication. Rather, it is an opportunity that is waiting to be explored. For years, it was information technology that constrained architects. Arguably, this relationship has reversed: it is now architects who are constraining the possibilities of information technology. This development raises the questions: How can we best explore the opportunities that information technology offers us? How can we understand the possibilities?

A Ted talk from the author explaining the colums:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsMCVMVTdn0

i remember now having seen it before, but it is just awesome, recently i was asked by many people about the architectural usage for fractals - those are just fractals - and he is giving a niiice example, for example colums or surface structures can be very fascinating, building a complete house that looks like a fractal might lead to terrible things, but using fractal parts for articistical reasons might be a veery interesting approach!
3d printing i hear you walking!

He starts his talk on Nature as architect and uses Ernst Haeckel drawings as an example, these are diatome and radiolaria for the most part that are not only fractal, but would make the most amazing domociles, furniture and lighting (several people have already made chandeliers based on Haeckel's jellyfish drawings)...3d printing certainly has a place in this, but I'd want a stage large enough to print me a house...then we are talking

More about fractal architecture, some good ideas of practical use of them in buildings
http://www.fractalarchitect.com/