ETH Zurich students have completed a 3D-printed ice cream shop in the Swiss Alpine village of Mulegns. The project, called Gelateria, was designed and built by students from the university’s Master of Advanced Studies in Architecture and Digital Fabrication program. The structure combines reclaimed timber with 3D-printed interior elements and serves as both a commercial space and architectural prototype.
The building’s exterior uses locally-sourced mass timber elements arranged in a faceted geometry resembling folded paper. A translucent membrane covers the timber shell, allowing daylight to filter through while making the colorful interior visible from outside. The overall design recalls the silhouette of a barn that previously occupied the site.
The interior features a 3D-printed cupola created using an experimental technique called Hollow-Core extrusion. This vaulted structure covers over 250 square meters while weighing less than one metric ton. The fabrication took place at ETH Zurich’s Robotic Fabrication Lab using recycled PETG plastic, a material commonly found in food packaging.
The project emphasizes material reuse and circular design principles. Both the timber structure and plastic elements can be disassembled and recycled for future use. The Gelateria is part of Nova Fundaziun Origen’s efforts to revitalize the region through architectural innovation, following the completion of their nearby White Tower project.
Source: designboom.com