The research investigates the potential of water, in its various states, as a sustainable and ephemeral building material to create innovative structures. We draw inspiration from natural processes such as the gradual formation of stalactites and stalagmites through mineral deposition and the rapid yet complex dynamics of icicle growth. These processes embody an interplay of gravity, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics, revealing principles applicable to architectural experimentation.

Natural phenomena, such as the ripple patterns observed in icicles, result from a combination of heat transfer and fluid flow, influenced by ambient conditions and water purity. Similarly, stalactites and stalagmites form through the precipitation of calcium carbonate in aqueous environments, with their characteristic shapes being a function of material deposition governed by gravity.

Inspired by these principles, we explore water and thread-based structural methodologies:

Catenary Modeling with Ice - Employing Antoni Gaudí's catenary curve method, we construct chain or rope models that reveal optimal load distribution. Spraying these models with water and freezing them produces geometrically precise ice structures capable of serving as temporary architectural forms.

3D Printing with Water-Soaked Threads - By developing a technique that involves printing water-soaked threads in subzero environments, we aim to create stable structures without synthetic polymers. This approach emphasizes environmental harmony and material circularity, as these ephemeral constructions naturally return to the ecological cycle upon melting. Additionally, Frei Otto’s pioneering work with physical modeling and lightweight structures, which explored natural behaviors such as tensile forces in materials, inspires our method to optimize structural efficiency and sustainability.