In Italy 3D Printers Are Making Eco-Friendly Emergency Housing

In collaboration with WASP, an Italian company specializing in large-scale 3D printing, Mario Cucinella Architects envisioned a quick build house constructed from raw earth By using natural local materials, he also ensured the builds are eco-friendly and biodegradable. “The goal was to match the agenda of 2030 in Europe of zero emissions.” For Cucinella, there are two key elements to his design; that it can be constructed swiftly and that it can be inhabited almost immediately. This is because he has envisaged the raw earth dwellings as emergency accommodation in conditions where housing needs to be provided in a short time.  Because the structure is built from earth, it can be constructed almost anywhere using local soil. The 3D printers can create different forms to adapt to the different climates and environments at the location. The project has been chosen as a pioneering example of zero-carbon construction for Build Better Now, a virtual exhibition at the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow.