La Cas’ ‘e la Pompa (The Pump House)

Date: 2025
Location: Antonito, Colorado, United States

One foot thick—the most substantial adobe walls ever 3D-printed. This new prototype departs from the usual explorations of form and robotic toolpaths to investigate something more elemental: the thermal efficiency of earthen architecture.

A wood-framed roof, protected by soil and drawing from the vernacular of the region, is insulated and completes the envelope. Inside and out, paired sensors record temperature and humidity. Already, in just the first day, the results are striking: while the outside air fell to 37.8° F (3.2° C), the interior remained a stable 57.6°F (14.2° C)—without any heating system.

What we are seeing in this humble work entitled, La Cas’ ‘e la Pompa (The Pump House), is the ancient science of adobe at work. Its thermal mass and breathability regulate the environment with elegance and precision, reminding us that sustainable comfort can come from the ground itself. By listening to earth’s intelligence, we can design futures that are grounded in the past while looking towards a resilient and sustainable future.

Credits

Design, Programming, and Construction: Ronald Rael, Andrew Kudless
Equipment: Tilikum-3 by Twente Additive Manufacturing
Special Thanks: Made possible in part from a grant by One Workplace