---
title: "Robotic 3D printing meets automotive design in Škoda’s light wall"
url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/robotic-3d-printing-meets-automotive-design-in-skodas-light-wall/
date: 2026-04-05
modified: 2026-04-04
lang: en
author: "Roksana Slusarczyk"
description: "Fungamental, a Czech studio specializing in robotic 3D printing, designed and produced a lighting installation for the Škoda Auto headquarters. The wall, composed of fifty front headlights from the Škoda..."
categories:
  - "Design"
  - "LFAM"
  - "Lighting"
tags:
  - "future"
image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Zrzut-ekranu-2026-04-04-173748.png
word_count: 503
---

# Robotic 3D printing meets automotive design in Škoda’s light wall

Fungamental, a Czech studio specializing in robotic 3D printing, designed and produced a lighting installation for the Škoda Auto headquarters. The wall, composed of fifty front headlights from the Škoda Superb, is covered with a system of printed slats that extend seamlessly from the wall to the ceiling. The slats were manufactured using LFAM with a non-planar printing strategy, while the entire system was modeled in Rhino using NURBS surfaces.

![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Zrzut-ekranu-2026-04-04-173838-273x340.png)

### 3D printing as a design tool, not just a production method

Fungamental describes itself as a studio that integrates design, printing, and construction into a single continuous process. In the case of the Škoda project, this meant full control over the form, from digital file to final installation. The slats are not simple flat panels. Their geometry references the car’s front grille, and the spatial effect was achieved by twisting each slat relative to the print plane. This design decision required the use of non-planar printing.

In conventional 3D printing, the printhead moves strictly in horizontal layers. Non-planar printing means that the printhead changes its angle, following the curvature of the geometry. This approach improves structural integrity and enables more complex geometries that cannot be achieved with standard layer-by-layer fabrication. In the case of the Škoda slats, it allowed the production of elements that appear to bend and twist in space without the need for assembly or bonding of separate parts.

### LFAM in architectural applications

In interior architecture, LFAM is still less common than in industrial applications. However, Fungamental’s project for Škoda demonstrates its potential. Traditional methods for producing decorative panels, such as CNC milling, thermoforming, or casting, require tooling and molds. Any change in geometry results in additional cost and time. 3D printing eliminates this step, allowing the design file to move directly from modeling software to the machine.

![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Zrzut-ekranu-2026-04-04-173906-340x205.png)

![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Zrzut-ekranu-2026-04-04-173911-340x204.png)

![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Zrzut-ekranu-2026-04-04-173901-e1775317291235-340x206.png)

### Modeling in Rhino and NURBS surfaces

The project was modeled in Rhino using NURBS surfaces, a critical technical choice. NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines) allow for precise representation of both organic and industrial geometries, while mesh-based formats like STL can only approximate such curves. For components that must be both visually consistent and ready for robotic fabrication, this approach provides significantly greater control over the final form.

Fungamental has previously applied the same combination of LFAM and non-planar printing, including in a conference table base where organic geometry could not be achieved through traditional manufacturing. The Škoda project represents a further step in this direction, this time at the scale of an entire interior installation.

![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Zrzut-ekranu-2026-04-04-173920-288x340.png)

### Final result

The wall at the Škoda headquarters operates on multiple levels. Functionally, it serves as a lighting system. Visually, it reinforces brand identity, as the Superb headlights form its core elements. Technologically, it showcases the capabilities of robotic 3D printing combined with parametric design.

The spatial effect visible in the installation is not created from off-the-shelf components. Each slat is a custom-printed element, designed to form a continuous, flowing surface extending from wall to ceiling. This is precisely what elevates the project beyond decoration.