Efficient material use through smart flexible formwork method

Concrete is an excellent material for application in free-form architecture as a result of its initial fluid state. Double-curved building shapes have been realized in various fibre-reinforced mixtures, using advanced CNC-milled formwork systems. However, a substantial reduction of material use is still possible on two ends: by using a flexible formwork very thin and structurally efficient elements can be manufactured, reinforced with fibres or textiles. Moreover, the reusability of the flexible formwork considerably limits the waste material that was always remaining after the use of milled formwork systems. This paper discusses experiments with both formwork and mixtures in a PhD-study of the first author, demonstrating the ecological potential of this innovative production method.