Digital earth-fibre craft inspired by traditional basketry

Natural building materials like clay soils and plant fibres are undergoing a renaissance in ecological design and architecture. Nonetheless, design creativity and fabrication using natural materials have mostly relied on manual techniques, such as cob and rammed earth, which are limited to heavy mass assemblies in rectilinear geometries with thick straight lines. Introducing digital fabrication with diverse ranges of processing parameters to natural materials can introduce novel patterns, textures, geometries and performances. This study explores the integration of 3D printing with soil- and plant-based fibre material recipes with high fibre content, culminating in digitally designed vessels inspired by traditional basketry protocols. Computational models of basket ‘wall’ profile typologies, from vertical to convex and concave geometries, were evaluated for their resulting printed patterns and structural stability. The texture results achieved in this work aim to challenge the digital aesthetics dominated by petroleum-based or thermoplastic pastes. Distinct printing qualities and pattern resolution were shown to be achieved for different fibre types, from wheat straw to longer hemp and banana fibres. By leveraging digital tools to reimagine ancient materials and techniques, this research aims to foster a deeper connection between constructed forms and our relationship with soil and plants as essential stewardships required for environmental agency in creative and accessible design. Exhibited in several design venues, the resulting artefacts showcase novel fusions of material surface patterns, crafted through machine deposition, embodying traditional inspirations in sustainable digital design.