TECLA, the new 3D printed house

The 3D printer manufacturer WASP, has partnered with Mario Cucinella Architects to embark on an innovative model of a 3D printed house, called TECLA. TECLA is a new circular housing model, created using entirely reusable, recyclable materials taken from the local terrain. They will be launching the first prototype of this habitat in Bologna, Italy and it will be built using the WASP 3D printer Crane.

The aim of this project is to respond to issues such as the exponential increase of population. In fact, a United Nations report published in 2017 demonstrated that the current global population of 7.6 billion people is expected to reach 11.2 billion in 2100. By 2030, it’s nearly 5 billion people that are expected to live in cities. It’s no surprise that governments are faced with substantial challenges related to finding housing solutions and even more so finding affordable ones.

WASP is using its Crane 3D printer to build TECLA | Image via WASP

3D printing, a solution for the construction industry?

WASP has been working on the principles of circular economy since 2012 in order to build 3D printed houses in the shortest period of time and in the most sustainable way possible. Multiple collaborative 3D printers will work together on the TECLA prototype – the project has the potential to become the basis for brand new autonomous eco-cities. Moreover, WASP’s 3D printers will use locally sourced clay. This means two things, one on hand, this will accelerate the construction process as the 3D printer can produce the entire structure at once, on-site, and secondly this approach will limit industrial waste considerably.