Projects per year
Personal profile
Academic background
Arno Pronk graduated as an architect at the TU Delft Faculty of Architecture in 1994. During his studies he explored both sculptural art and technical innovation. After his studies, not only did he work as an architect but also as a designing technician. His technical interest had been developed further during a two-year post-graduate course at the chair Product Development (TU Delft). In cooperation with Professor Lichtenberg (TU/e) he developed a patented flooring system, which was successfully introduced on the Dutch market and used in several high-profile buildings (among others Kraanspoor in Amsterdam and the European Patent office by Jean Novel). He had two years’ experience as an assistant professor at TU Delft, 12 years of experience in the same job at the Eindhoven University of Technology (0.8 FTE) and in addition in the past seven years as a lecturer on material science at KU Leuven Faculty of Architecture (0.2 FTE). His PhD research on flexible moulding for fluid architecture connects fluid architecture with technology. It is a summary of the intensive and long-lasting research in flexible forming with different techniques and materials. It has resulted in the realization of several projects and technologies. In addition to practical projects, he has organized several international workshops and conferences. The biggest ones were Adaptables (2006), Bridges Leeuwarden (2008) and IASS Amsterdam (2015). In 2017 he became the chair of IASS workgroup 21 about advanced manufacturing and materials.
Research profile
My expertise lies in the development and application of environmentally related innovations in experimental structures and buildings. Below is a list of the most important projects: In 2021 Springer will publish a 500-page book entitled Flexible Forming for Fluid Architecture. In 1996, in collaboration with Geelen Beton and buro A +, I developed the adaptable Slimline ® floor that makes it possible to adapt buildings in a simple way during their lifetime. With this patented floor system I designed and realized the first office building. This system was used to build the European Patent Office designed by Jean Novel in Rijswijk (NL) and the Kraanspoor designed by Tudo Hooykaas in Amsterdam. In 2001 and 2003 I realized a stage cover and pavilion with the combination of inflatable molds and composites. In 2003 I realized a directly cooled igloo. The development of this innovation has resulted in a significant reduction in the use of energy compared to conventional refrigerated systems and resulted in three patents. In 2005 and 2006, I developed an inflatable pavilion and an inflatable ring for the 60th anniversary of the TU/e. In 2006 I developed a system for the realization of shell constructions with shotcrete which has been patented. With this system, a prototype was made for the rebuilding of the Philips pavilion (1958) designed by Le Corbusier, a cross vault in Kelpen (2009) and a shell structure designed by Massimiliano Fucsas in Eindhoven (2008). In 2005, 2012 and 2016, various innovative facade systems were developed with a focus on climate control. In 2013 I developed a motorcycle on LPG for 3 people. This motorcycle has been approved by the Rijksdienst Wegverkeer (RDW) in the Netherlands. I developed an autarkic installation concept for a harbor building (2013) and houseboat (2010). Between 2008 and 2016 I researched flexible moulding technology for producing curved structures in concrete, glass, composite and ice. The company ADAPA in Denmark has successfully explored one of these systems to realize the Museum of the Future in Dubai. In the period 2014-2016, various kinetic light support structures with solar panels were designed and constructed. With these systems it is possible to make dual-axis sun tracking. In 2017 I have designed and realized a moving foldable stage. With regard to circular construction, I realized two homes in Amsterdam in 2018 from wooden molds which were leftovers from the concrete industry. Since 2014, I have designed and realized a number of groundbreaking constructions with fiber-reinforced ice, such as the largest igloo with a span of 29.1 meters, the highest thin shell ice structure with a height of 30.5 meters and the first 3D printed grid shell of ice composites. For the Olympic Winter Games in 2022, I have made a proposal that i hope to realize. At the moment my research is focused on molding technology with ice. This has large environmental benefits because ice compared to conventional materials emits 80% less CO2 despite the energy required for it. Another current research topic is a new material and technique developed by Boskalis. With this invention it is possible to print very complex structural optimized shapes that are usually not possible with 3D printing equipment.
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Active
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SCB: Smart Circular Bridge for pedestrians and cyclists in a circular built environment NWE993
Blok, R., Teuffel, P. M., Moonen, S. P. G. (., Blok, R., Manconi, M., Shahmirzaloo, A., Habraken, A. P. H. W., Pronk, A. D. C., van den Hurk, B. & van Dorst, K.
26/09/19 → 31/12/23
Project: Research direct
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Material tests and execution methods of linear composite pykrete structural elements
Pronk, A. D. C., de Boer, M. B. G., van de Hoef, J. M., Otterspoor, P. M. L. M., Pieloor, L. M. J. & Vens, O. D., 15 Aug 2020. 9 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › Academic
Open AccessFile109 Downloads (Pure) -
Structural design and validation of a pykrete tower through form finding
Pronk, A. D. C., de Boer, M. B. G., van de Hoef, J. M., Otterspoor, P. M. L. M., Pieloor, L. M. J. & Vens, O. D., 15 Aug 2020. 6 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › Academic
Open AccessFile58 Downloads (Pure) -
Structural modelling, construction and test of the first 3d-printed gridshell in ice composite
Pronk, A. D. C., Li, Q. & Mergny, E., 1 Sep 2020, In: Journal of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures. 61, 3, p. 177-186 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile40 Downloads (Pure) -
Success factors in the realization of large ice projects in education
Pronk, A. D. C., Luo, P., Li, Q., Sanders, F. C., Overtoom, M., Coar, L., Fakhrzarei, M. & Ashrafi, A., 20 Dec 2020, (Accepted/In press) In: International Journal of Space Structures. XX, XX, 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
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The property of fiber reinforced ice under uniaxial compression
Wu, Y., Lou, X., Liu, X. & Pronk, A., 1 Apr 2020, In: Materials and Structures/Materiaux et Constructions. 53, 2, 15 p., 29.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
5 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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4TU Lighthouse project, Terra Ink
Pronk, Arno D.C. (Recipient), Turrin, M. (Recipient) & Venturini, T. (Recipient), 5 Jan 2017
Prize: Other › Fellowships & memberships › Scientific
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First price Harbin international ice competition
Pronk, Arno D.C. (Recipient), 21 Dec 2019
Prize: Other › Discipline related › Scientific
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Ontwerpwedstrijd duurzaam drijvend wonen, april 2010
Pronk, Arno D.C. (Recipient), 2010
Prize: Other › Discipline related › Professional
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WA Chinese Architecture Awards 2018
Pronk, Arno D.C. (Recipient), 6 Jun 2018
Prize: Other › Discipline related › Professional
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World Record Highest self-supporting ice shell
Pronk, Arno D.C. (Recipient), 10 Jan 2018
Prize: Other › Professional
Activities
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barcelona pavilion expo
Arno D.C. Pronk (Organiser) & John Orr (Organiser)
6 Oct 2019 → 11 Oct 2019Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Workshop, seminar, course or exhibition › Scientific
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workshop advanced manufacturing
Arno Pronk (Organiser) & John Orr (Organiser)
16 Jul 2018Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Workshop, seminar, course or exhibition › Scientific
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construction of innovative structural ice pavilions
Arno Pronk (Participant) & Peng Luo (Organiser)
13 Dec 2017 → 22 Dec 2017Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Workshop, seminar, course or exhibition › Scientific
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workshop inflatable
Arno Pronk (Organiser) & Peng Luo (Participant)
23 Oct 2017 → 27 Oct 2017Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Workshop, seminar, course or exhibition › Scientific
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IASS Workgroup 21 on Advanced Manufacturing & Materials (External organisation)
Arno Pronk (Chair), John Orr (Chair) & Yiling Zhou (Member)
25 Sep 2017 → 9 Sep 2022Activity: Membership types › Membership of board › Scientific
Courses
Press/Media
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het maken van igloo's in Nederland
8/02/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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Reviving a frozen science; Dutch scientist teaches technique used to develop a secret weapon in the Second World War
29/02/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Meet the ice doctor who's reviving the frozen science behind Canada's secret weapon from WWII
22/02/20
4 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Meet the ice doctor who’s reviving the frozen science behind Canada’s secret weapon from WWII
22/02/20
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Engineering with ice: U of A students build beam with visiting Dutch expert
19/02/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment