Sustainable Decadence v2.0: 2050 Bathing Prototype
Ross Stevens unveils Sustainable Decadence v2.0, a 2050 bathing prototype combining large-scale 3D printing, AI, and discarded industrial objects.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Ross Stevens presents a futuristic bathing prototype designed for the year 2050
- Combines large-scale 3D printing with discarded industrial materials
- Utilizes artificial intelligence to plan, design, and monitor the manufacturing process
- Tests structural durability in demanding wet and humid architectural environments
What happens when an abandoned industrial jam vat, a mismeasured window, and architectural-scale 3D printing converge around one of humanity's oldest domestic rituals? Sustainable Decadence v2.0 by industrial designer Ross Stevens explores how artificial intelligence, digital manufacturing, and discarded objects can combine to create an innovative bathing environment with a minimized environmental footprint. Developed as both an experimental art piece and an architectural prototype looking forward to the year 2050, the project examines how large-scale 3D printing can bridge the gap between existing found objects and newly manufactured architectural elements. This approach builds directly on Stevens' ongoing interest in repurposing industrial waste while tackling the challenge of integrating unrelated components into a cohesive spatial system.
As part of his broader exploration into what a contemporary equivalent of mid-century modernism might resemble by 2050, designer Ross Stevens evaluates how emerging technologies can forge new relationships between existing materials, automated manufacturing processes, and daily rituals. Continuing an investigative path that began with Sustainable Decadence v1.0 in 2011, the project centers around an eclectic collection of surplus components. These include a stainless-steel industrial jam cooking vat, a ventilation pipe, a miscalculated double-glazing window, and leftover balustrade glass. The reused stainless-steel vat serves as the focal point around which the new architectural additions are arranged, with large-scale 3D printing acting as the mediator that produces stairs, railings, and roof enclosures tailored to their unique geometries.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Sustainable Decadence v2.0 exemplifies an advanced evolution of circular economy principles through adaptive reuse, supercharged by digital fabrication and generative AI. By utilizing custom 3D printing to bridge irregular geometries of salvaged materials, the project overcomes traditional limitations in sustainable architecture where recycled components often fail to fit standard building dimensions.
Artificial intelligence is leveraged throughout the process as a collaborative partner capable of identifying reuse opportunities, translating design concepts into physical forms, generating CAD files for 3D printing, and monitoring production metrics in real time. At its core, the project elevates bathing from a routine task into a source of personal pleasure, examining how such immersive sensory experiences can be integrated into modern design while strictly limiting the environmental resources required for their construction.
Among its standout engineering features is a large 3D-printed pivoting roof that provides insulation and weather protection while seamlessly shifting the bathing space between indoor and outdoor modes. The roof pivots around an extended tubular joint designed to distribute structural stress evenly, allowing it to open completely during clear weather or close partially during rainfall. When fully sealed, it alters the acoustic profile of the space, making the sound of water ripples much more pronounced while a double-glazed skylight maintains a direct visual connection to the sky.
The stairs and balustrades are printed using PETG polymer and reinforced with dual continuous 16 mm nylon ropes encased in epoxy resin, featuring a built-in continuous hand recess underneath for improved ergonomics. Because the harsh hot and wet conditions of an outdoor bath create a demanding environment, the project rigorously tests the structural performance and durability of printed components across roofing elements, staircases, and electrical enclosures.
"Bridging discarded industrial materials with digitally designed and fabricated components through large-scale 3D printing."
Ross Stevens
Source: designboom
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