The Sunflower Village: Using 3D Printing to Move Towards More Sustainable Communities

As the construction industry reinvents itself to address growing global environmental issues, 3D printed buildings have been gaining momentum. Whether in the United States, the Netherlands or China, where the first 3D printed retractable bridge was installed, the use of 3D printing in construction is rapidly growing. And some want to go even further. Architect Valentino Gareri, along with Steve Lastro of 6Sides, which specializes in technology and wellness, and Delos, one of the world’s leading real estate companies, have designed the Sunflower Village, a sustainable, ecological, innovative and 3D printed hamlet!

Composed of 19 sustainable houses, and designed for low-density rural areas, Sunflower was imagined as a way to respond to the mass exodus from the big cities, which has especially been increasing since the beginning of the health crisis. As the name suggests, the architect was inspired by the shape of sunflowers to arrange the different houses. Like the flower, the village follows a circular shape and the different houses are built around a central area. And to build the 19 houses, Valentino Gareri and his partners want to use additive manufacturing.

Photo Credits: Valentino Gareri Atelier

Expanding on this, the firm noted, “From stone and timber structure to the adoption of bricks and the arch-vaulting system, or the introduction of reinforced concrete structure that made possible to create higher and more transparent buildings.Similarly, the 3D printing technology will give form to the city of the future. This represents a more sustainable construction process compared to a traditional one, as less soil is used during the working phase.”