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Sand’s dual nature—both solid and fluid, tranquil and chaotic—makes it an ideal medium for expressing dynamic, fleeting moments in art and design. For centuries, artists have been working with sand capturing the essence of the present moment and embracing its impermanence, knowing their creations may be altered or even destroyed by the elements. Yet, today, with the help of cutting-edge 3D-printing technology sand becomes a tool to explore the tension between nature and technology, permanence and change.

Created by architect and researcher Barry Wark, Nadarra is a six-meter-long 3D-printed sand wall that represents a major leap forward in construction and design. This intricate wall, hailed as the “most intricate 3D-printed wall ever manufactured,” showcases the potential of sand-printing technology, which is already being used in industries such as car manufacturing but now finds a new application in architecture. Nadarra not only redefines our perception of sand as a building material but also challenges the boundaries between the natural and the artificial in an age where both worlds are increasingly intertwined.

Wark’s vision for the project extends beyond aesthetics. He sees 3D-printed sand as a game-changer for the construction industry, with the potential to create durable, load-bearing structures that blend seamlessly into the environment. By harnessing sand—a material inherently tied to the desert landscapes surrounding Dubai—this project also underscores the potential for local materials to shape sustainable architecture in the future. Nadarra serves as a prototype for a more ecological and regionally attuned approach to building, one that could be replicated across desert regions worldwide.

The wall itself is a visual marvel, with intricate textures that emulate the natural processes of erosion. Wark used generative AI software to design the wall’s 3D surfaces, allowing the material to mimic the organic textures found in nature. This emphasis on texture and form highlights an important theme of the project: the blurring of lines between the natural world and human-made structures.

In constructing Nadarra, Wark employed a process known as binder-jet printing, which involves layering a liquid binding agent over fine sand particles to create sturdy panels. These panels tessellate to form the wall, which can be reprinted up to eight times without compromising its structural integrity. This innovative method not only makes Nadarra incredibly sustainable but also aligns with the region’s ecological goals. Wark envisions a future where desert countries like the UAE can utilize local sand and gravel to create architectural elements, reducing the reliance on imported materials and minimizing the environmental impact of construction.

Drawing inspiration from the windswept dunes and undulating landscapes of the desert, Rory Noble-Turner, a Northern Irish architect and interior designer, has reimagined the timeless game of chess. His creation, the Dune Chess Set seeks to capture sand in its purest form, blending art and function in a way that challenges traditional notions of design. Each chess piece is sculpted with an organic texture that alternates between smooth and rippled surfaces, offering a tactile experience that engages the player’s senses as much as the mind.

The board itself is no less spectacular. Its sloped silhouette mimics the rolling hills of a desert, with opposing pieces stationed on elevated ridges before descending into the battle below. This fluid, dynamic landscape becomes an integral part of the game, influencing not just the aesthetic but the strategy of play. Noble-Turner’s collaboration with the German manufacturer Sandhelden allowed him to harness cutting-edge sand 3D-printing technology, creating a material that is as hard as stone but retains the aesthetic softness of sand’s natural forms.

Chess, for Noble-Turner, is not merely a game but a ritual that transcends time and culture. As an architect fascinated by form and texture, he saw the chessboard as an ideal medium to explore the tension between structure and fluidity, permanence and impermanence. Sand, with its mutable and ever-changing nature, served as a perfect metaphor for the game’s own dynamics—constantly shifting, evolving, and unpredictable with each move.

The Dune Chess Set stands in contrast to the polished luxury objects typically associated with high-end design. Its appeal lies in its deliberate imperfections—the ripples and textures that invite the player’s fingers to explore. Rather than being an object to be admired from a distance, this chess set is meant to be touched and experienced, awakening a physical connection in an increasingly digital world. The varying surfaces on both the board and the pieces symbolize the duality of sand itself: calm and turbulent, solid and fluid.

Noble-Turner spent months refining the textures, using 3D sculpting tools commonly employed in visual effects to achieve the perfect balance between natural randomness and controlled design. His dedication to capturing the essence of sand—its windswept randomness, its tactile beauty—reflects a profound commitment to blending nature’s organic beauty with the precision of modern technology.

Sandhelden is also the manufacturer behind Nomads, a speculative, futuristic project by London-based design studio StudioLav. The project imagines a small tribe of 3D-printed creatures embarking on a journey to explore a new world. Inspired by nomadism—both ancient and modern—Nomads takes a fresh look at mobility, openness, and the deep, symbiotic connection between beings and the Earth. These sand-made figures symbolize an ideal aspiration for re-establishing harmony between technology, nature, and humanity, offering a new perspective on community and survival.

Opposed to the present-day concept of “settling” in one place, Nomads builds upon the primal urge to wander, but with a futuristic twist. The creatures in the project are not bound by traditional human movement patterns but instead reflect a new form of nomadism, one where adaptability, mobility, and community are central. These sand beings represent a journey towards reconnecting with nature and embracing a new, fluid definition of belonging and survival.

The Nomads creatures are designed to reflect the evolutionary potential of life forms in constant motion. Drawing inspiration from “ceremonial couture”—such as body scarification, body painting, and elaborate costumes—the creatures’ forms combine ancestral cultural practices with futuristic design.

The creatures are 3D printed using sand, blending cutting-edge technology with the timeless connection to the Earth. The material’s rough surface and natural textures give the figures a palpable sense of nature. The project invites us to reconsider how new technologies can help reforge a deeper relationship with the Earth, even as they take us to new, unexplored frontiers. By creating these sand creatures, StudioLav and Sandhelden not only reimagine nomadism in the future but also explore the power of new materials and technologies to create works that are both futuristic and deeply connected to the Earth.