Foldcast. Optimización de estructuras de hormigón con encofrados de papel
Additional information
Authors
Amicarelli F.,
Lloret-Fritschi E.
Type
Journal Article
Year
2025
Abstract
Concrete is the most widely used building material worldwide, valued for its availability, strength, durability, and versatility. However, its extensive use makes it one of the largest contributors to CO₂ emissions in the built environment, despite having lower embodied carbon per unit volume than many alternatives. A transition toward more sustainable construction therefore requires reducing material consumption and minimizing waste. Foldcast addresses this challenge by enabling up to 50% material savings in structural elements through the use of low-cost, recyclable paper formwork. This method combines structural optimization strategies with digital fabrication technologies to produce large-scale concrete elements. Two full-scale applications for a ribbed concrete slab and a precast staircase demonstrate the potential of this approach to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of concrete structures while enhancing architectural design flexibility. Furthermore, the affordability and compatibility of paper formwork with conventional construction practices highlights its promise for widespread adoption in the building industry.
Keywords
Concrete, Sustainability, Formwork, Digital fabrication, Structural optimization
Journal
EN BLANCO. Revista de Arquitectura
Volume
17
Number ( Month )
39
Pages (or article number)
126-131
ISSN
1888-5616
Diffusion
License
CC BY-NC-SA
Visibility
Public
Status open access
Gold
