20.500.12556/RUL-184864 An exploratory design framework for ceramic water filtration natural principles, vernacular knowledge, and digital fabrication in a Slovenian case study 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. water access 3D clay printing ceramic water filtration site-responsive design sustainable product design vernacular knowledge low-operational-energy system digital fabrication 3D-tiskanje z glino dostop do vode keramična filtracija vode oblikovanje trajnostno oblikovanje ljudsko znanje sistem nizka poraba med obratovanjem digitalna izdelava true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Članek v reviji 2026-07-16 09:15:15 2026-07-16 09:15:23 2026-07-17 04:30:51 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 Str. [1]-23 14, [article no.] 7214 18 2026 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 2026-07-15 7.011:502.131.1 2071-1050 doi.org/10.3390/su18147214 - 284960515 sustainability-18-07214.pdf sustainability-18-07214.pdf 1 52FC5C93C4368858BF9D230F744CF1AF 5dd5e7199b06ccf5481cacb08d37e1ce30403e4d8d3fb8ae85de12a93acb7e58 af17d389-80e6-11f1-9b0d-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=240234 https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/18/14/7214 1 ecd20aa6-80e5-11f1-9b0d-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=240231 Akademija za likovno umetnost in oblikovanje 0 0 0