With the human population expanding rapidly and rural areas being slowly integrated into the cities, we're about to be faced with significant challenges concerning housing solutions in the future.

As an attempt to provide a sustainable solution, WASP, a notable 3D printer manufacturer in collaboration with an architectural firm Mario Cucinella Architects, created a model for a sustainable global habitat called TECLA.

3D Printed Homes: A Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Alternative

The Research and Design

With a design inspired by the potter wasp, TECLA is a circular housing model. It is built by using several 3D printers in unison to accommodate for a greater scope and scale. The homes are crafted using recyclable materials that can be taken from the local terrain. The research for this home model was made in the SOS - School of Sustainability. The goal was to create a sustainable solution that would work well in different climates. The results show a far greater energy-efficiency than that witnessed in traditional home designs.

What Makes 3D Printed Homes a Great Option

The construction process is based on circular economy. This allows for the construction to be done sustainably and very quickly. The design can be adapted to multiple environments and the construction process is zero-waste. By limiting industrial waste in such a manner, this approach can boost the wellbeing of communities. What’s more, as the 3D printers will be able to construct the entire structure, the process will be much faster than traditional construction.

What It Could Mean

3D Printed Homes: A Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Alternative

This project could become the potential basis for autonomous eco-cities in the future. The innovative and sustainable approach to construction could boost the local and national economy, and help achieve a suitable solution for issues regarding homlessness, construction carbon footprint, and more. The project of constructing a prototype of this 3D printed habitat was embarked on by WASP and MCA in 2019, near Bologna in Italy.