GTU Team Develops "Water-Ground Structures" Through Robotic Fabrication

The Responsive Ground Research Lab (RGRL) of the GTU Department of Architecture successfully completes the International Vertico Greenfield Residency 2025 Program with its “Water-Ground Structures” project, developed through robotic fabrication.

The Responsive Ground Research Lab (RGRL) within the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture at Gebze Technical University (GTU) has successfully completed its project titled “Water-Ground Structures”, selected for the Vertico Greenfield Residency 2025 program from among 14 international submissions, in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. This prestigious program is considered one of the leading global platforms in innovative production technologies, robotic concrete printing, and advanced materials research.

Following several months of preparation prior to the program, the team had the opportunity to develop their project research over the course of a week in Vertico’s robotic fabrication environment, using advanced parametric digital modeling processes and full-scale 1:1 three-dimensional concrete printing technology.

Within the scope of the works, advanced phases were carried out such as the simulation of production paths in a digital environment for 3D concrete printing, pre-printing preparation using slicing software that converts 3D model data into machine code, the use of ABB robots in 3D concrete printing processes, and testing the behavior of layered, interlaced, and sedimentary geometries in full-scale material applications. This process provided a unique learning and production environment where design research was transferred from parametric digital modeling to physical fabrication, bringing together robotic manufacturing and material behavior.

Throughout the project, the RGRL team worked closely with Vertico's founder Volker Ruitinga as well as JoePaul Luikart, Victoria Fedorova, Jun Woo Lee, Tom Younger, and the entire Vertico team. The program represents a strong example of GTU’s international collaborations carried out using innovative technologies.

The project was developed by the Responsive Ground Research Lab team, consisting of Assoc. Prof. Fitnat Cimşit-Koş (Project Lead), Seben Aşkın-Kütükçü (Research Assistant, GTU Department of Architecture), Betül Ozar (Assistant Professor, Işık University), Zehra Bilgiç (PhD Student in Architecture, GTU), and Özgür Kavurmacıoğlu. The design phase of the project was conducted under the supervision of Asst. Prof. Ümit Barış Kutman from the GTU Institute of Biotechnology. GTU’s successful undergraduate students, Asiyenur Gür, Berfin Beril Eker, Betül Y. (contribution to 1/20 model), Boran Tan, Büşra Soyarslan, Duru Tekiner, Ebrar Sönmez, Ebru Nisa Karataş, Elanur Mevlüde Özgül, Eylül Aykutalp, Feridun Çanakcı, Hayal Karataş, Meliha Şeyma Kurt, Saliha Yerli, Sıla Terzioğlu, and Tuğba Alptekin, experienced the application of their designs on-site and actively participated in every stage of the process.

As GTU, we take pride in the expertise gained through this significant international collaboration and aim to further expand our research in environmental design, robotic fabrication, and sustainable building technologies.

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