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Michael Stern: 3D-printed structural glass for terrestrial and lunar architecture

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Salle de conférences RDC - ENSAPLV - Site Ardennes, 23 rue des Ardennes, 75019 Paris

3D-printed structural glass for terrestrial and lunar architecture – © Michael Stern

Videoconference in English organized by Brent Patterson as part of his teaching at ENSA Paris-la Villette and ENSA Paris-Malaquais, in particular CCA EXPLO710 – Meaning in practice and the practice of meaning.

This project explores the design, manufacture and structural performance of 3D-printed glass systems for terrestrial buildings and lunar outpost habitats. Building on recent advances in molten glass additive manufacturing by Stern, Becker and Massimino (MIT) and Evenline, this project investigates how to exploit the fluid behavior of glass to create transparent, load-bearing structures that combine technical precision and material expressiveness. Research ranges from recycled glass construction on Earth to in situ fabrication on the Moon, envisioning a new architectural language combining light, resilience and circularity.

Biographical details
Michael Stern is an artist, designer and engineer who combines traditional craftsmanship with digital design. Co-inventor of the world’s first 3D glass printer, he holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His career is both technological and creative. As part of MIT’s Mediated Matter Group, he co-developed additive manufacturing systems for optically transparent glass. In 2022, he launched Evenline, a studio dedicated to digital glass, where he leads a team exploring new possibilities in design, sculpture, architecture and lighting. Fascinated by algorithmically designed surfaces and the reuse of recycled glass, he continues to push the boundaries of this medium. As an artist, he works at the intersection of traditional glassmaking and contemporary digital design. His practice navigates between material science and expressive form, demonstrating how computational methods enrich artistic practice and technical innovation. Stern is artist-in-residence at RIT’s Glass program, where he co-teaches “Digital Glass”, a course focused on the design and creation of glass objects through digital modeling, moldmaking and 3D printing.

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