Sanctuary is a commissioned project created for Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. 3D-printed entirely on-site,. The structure offers a quiet space for reflection while serving as a test case for ecologically sound building techniques.
Echoing Rael San Fratello’s earlier work, SOL Grotto (2012), the 3D printed earth includes walls perforated with glass solar rods salvaged from the 2011 collapse of the Bay Area company Solyndra.
The structure recalls the silos that once lined the northern San Luis Valley, where Rael’s family has lived for seven generations. Rather than holding grain, here this typology is used to hold sky and light, providing an immersive sensory experience.
Project team
Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello, with Yoni Asega, Dorothy Dávila, David Prigge, David Tim, and O Soo Vega. 3D printing expertise by Muddy Robots.
Project Date: 2026
