Joris Laarman’s 3D printed SYMBIO benches exhibited in NYC

Dutch artist Joris Laarman is no stranger to us. Focused on the intersection of craftsmanship and technology, Laarman has often used additive manufacturing as a tool to bring his visions to life. Most notably, Laarman was responsible for the design of the 3D printed steel bridge in Amsterdam, made in cooperation with Arup and MX3D. Otherwise, Laarman has often been interested in using technology to rethink how furniture is designed, constructed, and interacted with. Such is the case in his latest series, SYMBIO, consisting of 3D printed outdoor benches.

The SYMBIO benches are currently being exhibited at Friedman Benda, a prominent New York City gallery known for representing globally recognized designers and artists. Unlike most of the art there, which is to simply be looked at, Laarman’s 3D printed pieces are set up so that visitors can not only admire them but actually sit on and interact with them.

In addition to human interaction, the benches are designed to engage with their environment. That is, the 3D printed structures have been made in a way that encourages the growth of mosses and lichens. The pebble-shaped benches feature a geometric pattern that appears to have been carved into their surface. This effect was created using a 3D printer and a carbon-storing concrete-based mixture. Inside the recessed paths, Laarman has applied a bioactive substrate that encourages the growth of organisms like moss and lichens. The effect is a concrete structure that looks like it is growing green from the inside.

It is also worth noting that the geometric structure of the SYMBIO benches was inspired by a reaction-diffusion pattern described by English mathematician Alan Turing. As Friedman Benda writes, this functions as “a potent symbol of symbiosis—between nature and architecture, computation and craft.”

Laarman’s SYMBIO series is being exhibited at Friedman Benda until July 24, 2026 alongside other works from the artist, including four pieces from his Ply Loop series. These pieces—also furniture—take the design possibilities of plywood to new heights thanks to Laarman’s use of innovative (and sustainable) materials, digital design, and manual craftsmanship.

The Dutch artist’s work reflects a new paradigm within the design world, where emphasis is placed not only on newness and innovation, but also on ecology. Others working at the intersection of design, technology, and sustainability include French artist Raphaël Emine, whose Utopies entomologiques series leverages ceramic 3D printing to create sculptural housings for insects and other living organisms, like moss and plants; researcher Dan Parker who is creating fungi-based 3D printed housings for birds; and Zaha Hadid Architects, which has 3D printed an artificial reef to encourage habitat restoration at the Hong Kong marine park.