Architect builds “the world’s first” steel 3D printed exoskeleton modular house

China3D printingNet September 22nd, Sardinian architecture and design company MASK Architects designed the world’s first steel structure in Olani, Sardinia.3D printingModular house series.
The project is called “Madre Natura” or “Mother Nature” and will use a new type of steel called EXOSTEEL3D printingThe “Exoskeleton” construction system is constructed using the technology of Dutch 3D printing technology supplier MX3D and the robotic arm of the automation company KUKA.

With the completion of the first design step of the project, MASK Architects is looking for investors to realize the project and is in the process of reaching a joint agreement with MX3D for the company to participate in the construction.



A rendering of the 3D printed house in the Madre Natura development project. The picture comes from Mask Architect.

Madre Natura” concept

MASK Architects was inspired by the Italian sculptor Costantino Nivola and his famous “La Madre” sculpture, which was used to design the Madre Natura habitat. The project will build a modular residential development project within the sloped mountainside of Orani.
Madre Natura will be located near the Nivola Museum and will become a “life landmark” that blends harmoniously with the surrounding environment. The design studio envisaged the residential complex as a housing development project for the local community and eventually formed a small village.

The development will consist of multiple heart-shaped white houses with a central “energy tower” that mimics the head of Nivola’s La Madre sculpture. Each building will be designed to be completely self-sufficient and able to withstand the natural climate and weather conditions of Sardinia. These houses will be built with built-in voids to guide the strong winds of Sardinia through each building to the public wind turbines of the development, which will provide electricity for the homes.
Each family will also be equipped with a separate energy pipeline, covered in solar panels, these pipelines will collect solar energy to generate electricity for the family. The main central energy tower containing all the systems will be constructed using EXOSTEEL steel robot 3D printing technology.

Rendering of the Madre Natura development project after its completion. The picture comes from Mask Architect.

EXOSTEEL exoskeleton

Once the project shifts from the design concept to physical construction, MASK Architects plans to build the house by inserting a hollow column that occupies one-third of the height of the building into the ground. The column will be reinforced with wooden beams supporting the three floors of the house. Each floor will be divided and supported by external walls composed of panels that mimic the organic shape of the house.
Each house will be manufactured using the EXOSTEEL steel 3D printing exoskeleton construction system, which uses MX3D’s 3D printing technology and KUKA’s robotic arm.
MX3D’s proprietary Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) technology is designed to integrate with industrial robots and power supplies, using the Directed Energy Deposition (DED) 3D printing process to convert them into 3D printers.

The company previously demonstrated the capabilities of its WAAM technology through a 3D printed stainless steel bridge in the center of Amsterdam. “MX3D Bridge” has been in preparation since 2015 until it was unveiled earlier this year, which involved the use of four industrial WAAM robots to work together to 3D print more than 6,000 kilograms of stainless steel.
For the Madre Natura project, MASK Architects hopes to use MX3D’s WAAM technology to 3D print “all structural parts, columns, load-bearing beams and supporting elements” of the house. The plan is to use WAAM to integrate with a KUKA robotic arm with laser tools to 3D print steel powder to construct different aspects of the building.
MASK Architects is currently looking for investors to take the project to the next stage. Before Madre Natura becomes a reality, the technology and design still need some improvements.
The design studio said: “This is just the first step. We know we have found a solution, but we need to improve it. We are designing bold and organic houses to attract the attention of everyone in the field, but the next project It should be more fashionable and sharp.”

A bird’s eye view of the exterior of WAAM’s 3D printed steel house. The picture comes from Mask Architect.
3D printingHousing Project

As the scalability of architectural 3D printing continues to increase, the technology is increasingly being used to build commercial homes and communities. Examples include ICON’s 3D printed residential community for low-income families in Mexico, and PERI Group’s additive manufacturing three-story apartment building in Wallenhausen.At the same time, in March, California startup Mighty Buildings announced plans to 3D print 15 environmentally friendly houses on a 5-acre commercial site near Coachella Valley.

In other places, people have explored more innovative building 3D printing methods, such as WASP’s sustainable 3D printing habitat, TECLA, GAIA and “The House of Dust”. These structures are constructed using the company’s Crane WASP 3D printer using fully recyclable materials, and are in line with WASP’s mission to develop digital manufacturing processes to advance the principles of circular economy.

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