When an architectural and cultural project needs to manufacture hundreds of parts in a biodegradable material, on a tight deadline and without compromising on precision, pellet 3D printing stops being an interesting option and becomes one of the most suitable solutions available. This is exactly what happened with the Donostia pavilion for the Bienal Internacional de Arquitectura de Euskadi (Mugak) 2025, and the Indart3D team, responsible for the design and manufacture of the Tumaker brand, had the opportunity to take part in this project.
The pavilion was installed at Alderdi Eder, opposite the Donostia-San Sebastián City Hall, one of the most visible and heavily used locations in the city.
Architectural 3D printing: embroidery as a design concept
The installation, designed by Izaskun Chinchilla Architects, starts from a concept that is as concrete as it is poetic: transforming embroidery, a technique traditionally tied to craftwork, into a critical architectural proposal capable of engaging with public space. It is a reading that connects a manual craft with centuries of history to the most current manufacturing techniques, and that contrast is precisely part of what makes the project special.
It was a collaborative project in which different companies and organisations contributed their specialisms. Indart3D joined thanks to the opportunity provided by Cluster Habic, and took part by manufacturing all the parts intended for this technology using 3D printing. The project was coordinated by Ane Larrieta (COAAT Gipuzkoa), and the Biennial was backed by Eusko Jaurlaritza – Gobierno Vasco.
That brief, which on paper might look like just another line in a project spec, meant producing in practice a considerable volume of large parts, using a new material and with a sustainability requirement that was itself part of the installation’s concept.
Tumaker pellet printers for large-format parts
To meet the project’s needs, we used three machines from our own range, designed and manufactured at our facilities in Irún: the BF Modular, the NX Modular and our 1-metre pellet printer, which was the star of the project and handled the largest parts.
This last machine was decisive. It is the printer we used to manufacture the 600 kg of sustainable material the installation required, something only possible with a pellet extrusion system capable of working with large volumes without losing consistency or finish.
Biodegradable material for 3D printing: olive pit pellets
One of the most distinctive aspects of the project was the material chosen. The Eco OLIVE Pellets range from Smart Materials 3D was used, a biodegradable and eco-friendly material developed from olive pits. A material that, as well as being a technical fit for our pellet printers, connected directly with the sustainability and circular economy values of the project.
Working with a plant-based, biodegradable material at this scale is also a demonstration of just how far pellet 3D printing can go today when combined with materials designed from the outset to minimise their impact.
Industrial additive manufacturing production: a month in Irún
Manufacturing all the parts took around a full month of production, during which more than 600 kg of material were printed. The entire process, from the first gram of pellet to the last finished part, took place entirely at our facilities in Irún.
A workload of this scale demands not only machines built for continuous production, but also strict process control to ensure every part maintained the quality and tolerances needed for subsequent assembly.
3D printed parts in a public space architectural installation
Once manufactured, the parts travelled to Donosti, where they were installed at Alderdi Eder. There, the installation remained on display for several weeks and became the setting for various activities and workshops organised as part of the exhibition itself. In some of these workshops, the public was able to interact directly with the printed parts, closing the loop between technical manufacturing and public experience.
Pellet 3D printing as a success story in industrial additive manufacturing
The Mugak 2025 Biennial is a good example of something we at Tumaker are seeing more and more often: projects that don’t simply ask for “a 3D printer“, but for a manufacturing solution capable of responding to a new material, a demanding production volume and a specific deadline, all at once.
Our involvement in this project shows that pellet 3D printing, when combined with machines built for industrial production and sustainable materials such as olive pit pellets, can move beyond the lab or workshop and become the technology that makes a real architectural installation possible, one that is visible and used by thousands of people in a public space.
A project like this doesn’t come together alone. We would also like to acknowledge the opportunity provided by Cluster Habic, the materials collaboration from Smart Materials 3D, the vision of the Izaskun Chinchilla Architects team, the coordination by Ane Larrieta (COAAT Gipuzkoa) and the backing of Eusko Jaurlaritza – Gobierno Vasco for the Biennial.
