Traditional concrete construction has long been revealed to be wasteful and environmentally unsustainable. Our project, Concrete Plas proposes an alternative. Large portions of the materials are sourced, recycled locally and combined into a multi-material system where another environmentally problematic material, plastic, can be reused as stay-in formwork for concrete. Through the use of 3D printing, the formwork can be produced in intricate shapes that mould concrete into complex geometries without producing unnecessary waste and provide improved performance and additional functions for concrete. The system also allows vegetations such as moss to be grown on its surface with an altered concrete composition and treatment.

On an architectural level, the concept is applied to the re-design of the western concourse of London’s famous King’s Cross station. To respond to the modern over-urbanisation that detaches city habitants from nature, the project emphasises bringing the much-needed greenery back into the city. Transforming the current glass and steel canopy into an urban garden, the design balances numerous aspects of the project with the help of computational methods and generative design to achieve the best overall solution for plants, humans, city and the environment at the same time.