Ross Stevens' Sustainable Decadence v2.0 Uses 3D Printing and AI to Reimagine Bathing for 2050
Ross Stevens, an industrial designer, has developed Sustainable Decadence v2.0, a bathing prototype that combines 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and repurposed industrial materials. This initiative, backed by the New Zealand Product Accelerator (NZPA), expands on Stevens' earlier work, Sustainable Decadence v1.0 from 2011, with aspirations to reflect a contemporary take on mid-century design by 2050. The centerpiece of the design is a repurposed stainless-steel jam cooking vat, complemented by 3D-printed elements and salvaged items such as a ventilation pipe and balustrade glass. It includes a pivoting 3D-printed roof for enhanced insulation and acoustics, featuring a double-glazed skylight. AI is utilized for identifying reuse possibilities and overseeing the printing process. The project investigates the potential of adaptable architectural reuse and the future of 3D-printed structures. Photographed by Ross and Petra Stevens, with editing by Christina Vergopoulou for designboom.
Key facts
- Sustainable Decadence v2.0 is a bathing prototype designed by Ross Stevens for the year 2050.
- The project builds on Sustainable Decadence v1.0, which began in 2011.
- It combines architectural-scale 3D printing, AI, and discarded industrial objects.
- A reused stainless-steel industrial jam cooking vat forms the central element of the design.
- Other reused components include a ventilation pipe, an incorrectly measured double-glazing window, and a leftover section of balustrade glass.
- The 3D-printed pivoting roof provides protection and insulation and can shift between indoor and outdoor conditions.
- The balustrade is printed in PETG and reinforced with two continuous 16 mm nylon ropes encased in epoxy resin.
- Research was supported by the New Zealand Product Accelerator (NZPA).
Entities
Artists
- Ross Stevens
- Petra Stevens
- Christina Vergopoulou
Institutions
- New Zealand Product Accelerator (NZPA)
- designboom
Locations
- New Zealand