Alvaro LRDesign
Alvaro Lopez Rodriguez, Phd
@alvarolrd
alvarolopezrodriguezdesign@gmail.com
www.linkedin.com/in/alvaro-lopez-559286106
Alvaro Lopez Rodriguez is an architect, researcher, and Associate Professor (Teaching) at The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, where he leads innovation at the intersection of robotics, 3D printing, and mixed reality. In October 2025, he completed his PhD at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid with the thesis "Digital Interactions: Architecture for the Augmented Era," which redefines the synergy between human craftsmanship and digital automation. He also holds a Master of Architecture with Distinction from The Bartlett and a Master’s in Architecture from the European University of Madrid.
Complementing his academic tenure, Alvaro is a highly sought-after Digital Manufacturing Consultant. He has collaborated with pioneering international firms, including Nagami, Ensamble Studio, and DBT ETH Zurich, to implement advanced robotic fabrication and augmented reality workflows in large-scale architectural projects. His expertise bridges the gap between computational design and physical construction, focusing on "Augmented Craftsmanship" to empower local labour through intuitive technological tools.
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CV
NEW Z PAVILLION GRIMSDYKE FARM, 2023
New Z Pavilion
Guan Lee, Kostas Grigoriadis, Alvaro Lopez Rodriguez, Christopher Fischlein, Lawrence Hsu
Published at: "3D Printing and Material Extrusion in Architecture"
DESCRIPTION
Traditional 3D printing operates on three axes, layering material vertically within a restricted virtual container known as a bounding box. While a fourth rotational axis enables more complex geometries by tilting the build platform, the physical scale of printed objects is strictly limited by the printer's vertical build volume and its fixed relationship to gravity.
The New Z project proposes an experimental additive manufacturing process that fundamentally alters this dynamic by replacing the traditional vertical Z-axis with a continuously rotating horizontal axis. Building sideways rather than upwards, this method breaks conventional volume constraints and introduces new possibilities for structural performance. To test this approach, researchers constructed a doubly curved pavilion assembled from fifty-two customised material density tubes. The manufacturing process utilised a six-axis robotic arm operating in tandem with a rotating lead screw. By analysing the mean curvature of the target surface and mapping a variable-density point cloud accordingly, researchers were able to precisely dictate the material paths. High-curvature regions received sparser material deposition, rendering the tubes more bendable in those specific areas and facilitating the assembly of the complex target shape.
Compared to traditional vertical layered printing, this continuous horizontal spiralling motion offers notable manufacturing advantages, including an expanded printable area, reduced cycle times, and uninterrupted material flow. From a production standpoint, combining this sideways motion with a conveyor system could theoretically allow entire architectural projects to be extruded as a single continuous tube. Ultimately, this research demonstrates how rethinking the mechanical limitations of additive manufacturing can advance customised architectural fabrication.