May 15, 2016 | By Kira
A place—whether it is an entire city, a building, or even park bench—can be so much more than a geographical location. Re-visiting the spot where an event or occasion took place can trigger beautiful, lasting memories...but sometimes, it isn’t always possible to get back to that place. Now, thanks to Hungarian architecture studio Planbureau, 3D puzzle-makers LOGIDEEZ, and 3D printing technology, users can re-visit some of their favorite landscapes on Earth while challenging their creativity and logical thinking.
LOGIPLACES, a follow-up to the company’s previous LOGIFACES puzzle series, is a series of handcrafted, 16 or 36-piece concrete puzzles made using 3D printed molds. The intricate 3D puzzles represent topographical maps of well-known locations, including San Francisco, Budapest, the Grand Canyon, and the Alps. Eventually, the goal is to be able to 3D print a puzzle of any place in the world.
Similarly to LOGIFACES, which launched successfully via crowdfunding two years ago, LOGIPLACES serves a triple purpose: first, it removes users from the stress and noise of everyday life by giving them a fun and creative task to pursue. Second, it allows them to enhance both their creativity and logical thinking, as they find the correct place for each 3D prism. Finally, the finished piece serves as a beautiful and unique tabletop sculpture that is sure to spark conversation and meaningful, place-based memories.
“We would like to see beautiful, one of a kind architectural concepts in stores more often, especially in the world of games, where it’s rare to see a toy that also reflects on contemporary design,” said Daniel Lakos, co-inventor.
A major difference between LOGIFACES and the new, LOGIPLACES, however, it is mode of production, which relies heavily on 3D printing technology. According to the Hungarian creators, they were actually inspired to design LOGIPLACES after winning a MakerBot Replicator 2 3D printer in a “What-to-print-in-3D” design competition.
Using the their new desktop 3D printer, the designers were able to create sample molds of some of the most recognizable cityscapes in the world, and 3D print them with up to 100 micron resolution.
The 3D printed molds are filled with a special concrete mixture, and the details are finished by hand. “Concrete takes the puzzle experience to a new level with its different touch and mass,” explained LOGIDEEZ, the recently formed 3D puzzle umbrella brand. “We pour, grind and polish each piece, utilizing our award-winning, many years of experience in the production of design objects.”
One of the most exciting aspects of the LOGIPLACES campaign, which launched late last year on Indiegogo (it turned out to be not as successful as its predecessor) is that it actually gave backers the opportunity to vote for which city they would like to see 3D printed next. Though the fundraising has ended, a poll remains open showing the possibilities for future cities and locations that could one day become interactive, 3D printed tactile maps, including Amsterdam, London, Madrid and Death Valley National Park.
It is uncertain when LOGIPLACES, the 3D printed playable landscape puzzle, will hit the market, the concept itself is quite unique, and a great example of how 3D printing can take a standard desktop puzzle and transform it into something beautiful, fun, and truly meaningful.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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