The walls of the first certified 3D-printed house have been completed in the Shamballa open-air laboratory in the hills of Northern Italy.
Created by WASP, its mission is to develop Itaca, a 3D-printed, self-sufficient farm and living model based on a circular micro-economy. The project aims to establish a new paradigm for sustainable construction that can be easily replicated worldwide, thanks to 3D printing technology and the use of Crane WASP, a machine capable of operating even in remote areas.
One of its main goals is to create a 3D printed building that can meet the same standards as traditionally built structures, including ensuring earthquake resistance, in compliance with Italian, and wider European, regulations. As a region prone to seismic activity, Italy has very stringent building regulations, so achieving certification under these conditions will demonstrate that the model has replicability in most parts of the world.
“For us at WASP, Itaca represents a path towards food, water, energy, and economic self-sufficiency. A proposal for a solution to the social, energy, climate, and mass migration crisis. For us, 3D printing and digitisation are a response to the needs of humanity,” explained Massimo Moretti, Founder, WASP.
Building Itaca
Building construction was accomplished using a new configuration of the Crane WASP system, featuring four robotic arms positioned at the vertices of a hexagonal structure. This setup enabled the simultaneous printing of four wall sections, which means the four arms can complete the structural shell of a house in as little as a couple of days.
The walls are printed using a lime-based mixture without concrete, selected for its low carbon emissions, especially compared to traditional cement, while still meeting high-performance standards required for safe and durable construction. The mix is also highly breathable, which means the walls can better self-regulate temperature and avoid mould formation.
A series of reinforcement columns will be inserted inside the wall infills to enhance the structural integrity, ensure compliance earthquake regulations, and support the load of the green roof that will be installed.
Greener choices
To improve the thermal regulation and energy efficiency of the house, the walls are 60-70cm thick, and their infills will be packed with rice husks sourced from waste produced by the agrifood supply chain and natural lime powder. This creates internal insulation rather than external, resulting in a passive energy house, and regulates temperature, reduce energy demand, and lower emissions associated with heating and cooling systems.
The structure incorporates radiant heating systems and electrical installations, embedded directly during the printing phase, which removes the need for post-construction modifications. In addition, the ventilation network built into the wall framework enables consistent air circulation across interior spaces, turning the building into a “living” house capable of breathing. It also permits sanitising agents to be released into the air.
By pairing the chosen materials with natural insulation sourced from industrial byproducts, the environmental footprint of the walls is significantly lowered, achieving a negative CO₂ emission balance. In areas where regulations allow, the same architectural module of Itaca could be constructed using earth as a primary material, further reducing the building’s overall environmental impact.
Future developments
The Itaca Project is not solely focused on the construction of the building itself, but also on the innovative solutions that have been adopted for managing the surrounding land. These measures aim to enable intelligent and sustainable use of local resources, with the ultimate goal of creating a micro-circular economy capable of supporting human life while respecting the environment. Building on this vision, the project embraces a holistic approach to environmental regeneration and sustainable design.
Two rainwater harvesting basins were created on the surrounding land to promote water recovery, control soil erosion, and support agricultural activities. The intervention made it possible to capture and retain water in an area previously characterised by rapid runoff and severe summer drought, transforming the basins into bio lakes used for irrigation. This process helped convert a monoculture area into a high biodiversity environment.
As part of the reforestation and agroforestry initiative aimed at restoring biodiversity, over 500 trees and 50,000 aromatic medicinal plants will be planted in the surrounding area. An AI-powered automatic garden is currently in development to be integrated into the Shamballa space. It is intended as a tool to foster collaboration between humans and machines, simplifying and optimising the process of cultivating a small plot of land year-round. The system maximises the use of limited space while also improving accessibility by reducing the physical effort typically required to maintain a traditional hortus. Additionally, a series of 3D printed vertical hydroponic systems will be installed to ensure fresh vegetables all year round, using minimal water.
Inside the farm, a laboratory will be established to extract active ingredients from plants and conduct biological research, using advanced technologies to fully harness the resources cultivated in Shamballa.
