ARCHIBIOFOAM: The 3.5 Million Euro Project for 4D Printing Buildings That Adapt to the Environment

The construction industry is one of the most innovative sectors, where new technologies and materials are continually being tested and fine-tuned to move toward more sustainable construction and solve long-standing problems. Additive manufacturing is one of the technologies being studied in the field because it allows for building design to be reimagined with materials that are not accessible with traditional technologies. We have seen a number of ongoing projects in Italy in this field such as the European ConstructAdd project, which has the involvement of the Milan Polytechnic, and the innovations brought about through WASP and D-shape technology around the world.

In this vein, the European project ARCHIBIOFOAM, which also has the participation of the University of Milan, has been awarded a 3.5 million euro grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) to develop an expanded, 3D-printed biomaterial capable of changing shape and reacting according to its surroundings. Let’s see what it’s all about.

The ARCHIBIOFOAM Project: The Challenge of More Sustainable Construction

The ARCHIBIOFOAM project was born out of a specific need: to reduce the environmental impact of the construction sector, now responsible for 40 percent of annual global emissions. How? Through 4D printing and the use of a special biofoam (or bio-foam), which is organic and biodegradable. The project partners are the Center for Complexity and Biosystems at the University of Milan, Finland’s Aalto University, its spin-off company Woamy, and the University of Stuttgart. Each brings its expertise and specialization to integrate bio-based materials science, computational design of metamaterials and robotic additive manufacturing.