Architects: WASP
Area: 164.9 m²
Year: 2026
Photography: WASP
Lead Architects: Massimo Moretti
City: Bologna
Country: Italy

Itaca is a 3D-printed, self-sufficient farm prototype developed by WASP at the Shamballa open-air laboratory in Northern Italy. Envisioned as a circular micro-economy capable of supporting four people, the 164.9-square-meter structure combines additive manufacturing with passive environmental strategies and regenerative land management. Printed using a lime-based mixture selected for durability and low carbon impact, the thick walls integrate reinforcement, agricultural waste insulation, and embedded building systems. Designed to comply with Italian and European seismic regulations, the project demonstrates that 3D-printed construction can meet stringent certification standards. Beyond the building itself, Itaca incorporates rainwater harvesting, agroforestry initiatives, hydroponic cultivation, and plans for renewable energy generation, positioning the prototype as both a habitable structure and a research platform for resilient, low-impact living.

The completion of Itaca signals a shift in additive construction from experimental installations toward fully certified architecture. Realized in the hills near Bologna, the project moves beyond formal exploration to address regulatory compliance, structural performance, and environmental accountability. Conceived as a model for distributed, low-impact living, it proposes that digital fabrication can support not only rapid construction but also long-term resilience in contexts where infrastructure is limited or environmental conditions are extreme.

Construction was carried out using a new configuration of the Crane WASP system, composed of four robotic arms arranged at the vertices of a hexagonal frame. Working simultaneously, the machines printed four perimeter walls reaching 3.8 meters in height, significantly reducing construction time while maintaining precision. The plan is organized as a square inscribed within a circle, with four principal walls defining the corners and incorporating central openings that structure circulation and environmental exchange. This geometry reinforces the project’s ambition to combine symbolic clarity with practical efficiency.

Material strategy underpins the building’s environmental performance. The walls were printed with a lime-based mixture formulated without cement to reduce embodied carbon while ensuring durability and breathability. With a thickness of 60 to 70 centimeters, the envelope is designed as both a structure and climatic mediator. Internal cavities accommodate reinforcement columns to meet seismic standards and support the load of a future green roof. These cavities are filled with rice husks sourced from agricultural byproducts and natural lime powder, forming internal insulation that enhances thermal stability and contributes to a passive energy model.

Building systems are integrated directly into the printed fabric. Radiant heating, electrical conduits, insulation layers, and ventilation pathways are embedded during the additive process, minimizing subsequent interventions and material redundancy. The ventilated wall assembly promotes air circulation and indoor comfort while reducing reliance on mechanical cooling and heating. Through this synthesis of structure, services, and insulation, the project advances a conception of the building envelope as an active environmental interface rather than a static barrier.

Extending beyond the architecture, the surrounding landscape is treated as an essential component of the project’s self-sufficiency strategy. Rainwater harvesting basins mitigate runoff and create bio lakes for irrigation, while reforestation and agroforestry initiatives aim to restore biodiversity to the site. Plans for vertical hydroponic systems and an on-site laboratory dedicated to botanical research further reinforce the integration of habitation, cultivation, and technological experimentation. With the addition of a green roof and photovoltaic panels, Itaca positions itself as a prototype for a regenerative settlement model in which construction technology and ecological stewardship operate as a unified system.