In Delft, a 3D-printed passage by Studio RAP reinterprets traditional ceramic crafts

Rotterdam-based Studio RAP has completed a 3D-printed ceramic walkway in the Dutch city of Delft. Titled 'New Delft Blue,' the project “reinterprets the world-famous decorative qualities and design vocabulary of Delft Blue porcelain,” with a fusion of 3D clay printing, computational design, and artistic glazing. Image credit: Riccardo De VecchiImage credit: Riccardo De VecchiThe scheme is located in the communal courtyard of the PoortMeesters residential building block. Within the block, two large arching gates cover a public staircase, drawing reference from Delft’s historical role as a trading city. Studio RAP’s intervention within the arched passage takes its inspiration from traditional Delft Blue porcelain plates, whose vocabulary has changed radically over centuries with influence from Chinese and Japanese designs. Image credit: Riccardo De VecchiImage credit: Riccardo De Vecchi“The differentiation between a decorative, nature-inspired frame and idyllic scene, however, has bee...