An exploratory design framework for ceramic water filtration : natural principles, vernacular knowledge, and digital fabrication in a Slovenian case study

Groleger, Pia (avtor), Predan, Barbara (avtor)

Against the backdrop of the environmental crisis, access to water has become a critical challenge at both global and local scales. In Slovenia, dispersed settlement patterns mean that a significant share of the population relies on small-scale, self-managed, or insuffi ciently monitored water supply systems. This paper presents an exploratory practice-based case study and develops a design framework that integrates natural processes, vernacular knowledge, and new technology for water-related challenges in unmonitored catchment areas. The framework is articulated through the development of a site-responsive prototype for the Lipnik Spring in Triglav National Park, where elevated E. coli levels have been detected. The fabricated component is a 3D-printed ceramic gyroid filtration module, while the proposed system-level concept integrates an Archimedes’ screw mechanism to inves tigate how the kinetic energy of flowing water could support operation without external electricity. The study documents how ecological processes, local material knowledge, and digital fabrication were combined within a sustainability-oriented design process. Con textual iterations in Georgia and France apply the framework’s decision-making logic to different environmental conditions and locally available materials. The paper contributes to design practice research and sustainability-oriented prototype development by articu lating a structured approach to designing context-specific water-access concepts with low operational energy demand for remote settings.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: water access, 3D clay printing, ceramic water filtration, site-responsive design, sustainable product design, vernacular knowledge, low-operational-energy system, digital fabrication
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: ALUO - Akademija za likovno umetnost in oblikovanje
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Datum objave: 15.07.2026
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: Str. [1]-23
• Številčenje: 18, 14, [article no.] 7214
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-184864
• UDK: 7.011:502.131.1
• ISSN pri članku: 2071-1050
• DOI: doi.org/10.3390/su18147214 -
• COBISS.SI-ID: 284960515
• Datum objave v RUL: 16.07.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Sustainability
• Skrajšan naslov: Sustainability
• Založnik: MDPI
• ISSN: 2071-1050
• COBISS.SI-ID: 5324897

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: 3D-tiskanje z glino, dostop do vode, keramična filtracija vode, oblikovanje, trajnostno oblikovanje, ljudsko znanje, sistem, nizka poraba med obratovanjem, digitalna izdelava

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P5-0452-2024
• Naslov: Vizualna pismenost