With the opening of the Fixing Our Broken Planet exhibition, the Natural History Museum (NHM) aimed to reaffirm its commitment to sustainability while preserving Victorian architectural features of the building.

After extensive research, the NHM’s in-house team of architects chose to design the layout using display cases made from 3D printed ceramics. This approach combined environmental responsibility with fulfilling all functional and conservation requirements—including avoiding contact with historic walls and limiting point loads to a maximum of 400 kg.

LAMÁQUINA delivered a strategic manufacturing solution by dividing the gallery layout designed by the in-house NHM team of architects, into ten modular units. This modularity enabled the standardisation of individual components, significantly streamlining production, transport and installation. In under three months, 1,686 pieces were robotically fabricated at LAMÁQUINA’s facilities using 40% recycled clay from the ceramic industry. Each piece was engineered to exact specifications, including perforations for cabling and signage. Two different clay production techniques were employed: 3D printing for the bases and 2D tiling for top horizontal capping elements. The bases were shaped with tailored contours to enable dry assembly using biopolymer joints. This system ensures straightforward disassembly, scheduled to take place after ten years.