3D printed ceramic walls by studio RAP shape hotel’s entrance

Blue Voyage by Studio RAP Forms Wave-Like Ceramic Entrance

At the entrance of Dubai’s Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab hotel, two large-scale ceramic walls by Studio RAP define the spatial experience of arrival. Titled Blue Voyage, the installation explores the potential of 3D printed ceramics in architectural surfaces, combining computational design with material precision.

Positioned on either side of the main lobby entrance, the walls measure six meters in height and nine meters in length, creating a sculptural threshold between the exterior and interior. The project draws from the movement of the nearby Gulf, translating the dynamics of water into a series of fluid, wave-like forms. Each surface is composed of thousands of flowing lines that shift in density and depth, producing a tactile gradient that interacts with natural and artificial light throughout the day.

Dubai’s Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab hotel exterior | all images by Riccardo De Vecchi unless stated otherwise

900 Unique 3D Printed Ceramic Tiles shape the installation

In total, around 900 unique ceramic tiles were designed, generated parametrically, and 3D printed at Studio RAP’s facility in Rotterdam. The production process ensured precision in fit and consistency in surface quality while allowing variation across each module. The installation’s corner tiles were developed to wrap the patterns seamlessly, emphasizing continuity and minimizing visual interruption.

Blue Voyage represents one of the largest 3D printed ceramic architectural installations completed to date. The project continues the studio’s exploration of how computational tools and digital fabrication can extend the expressive and technical possibilities of ceramics within contemporary architecture.

two 3D printed ceramic walls by Studio RAP define the entrance of Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab in Dubai

the installation, titled Blue Voyage, explores the architectural potential of 3D printed ceramics