Itaca: Italy's first certified 3D-printed house, made by WASP

3D printing applied to construction is not the future… it’s the present! Recently, a historic milestone has been completed in this field: the first certified 3D-printed house in Italy, known as Itaca, has been completed at the open-air Shamballa laboratory in the north of the country by the innovative Italian company WASP.

Img 1: Itaca, the first certified 3D-printed house in Italy. Source: WASP.

What is Itaca and why is it relevant?

Itaca is not just a 3D-printed house — it is a self-sufficient and sustainable housing model designed to integrate with its environment and comply with strict regulations, including European Union seismic requirements. This is a huge step forward: it overcomes many of the challenges that previously prevented these structures from being considered real, certified housing.

In addition, Itaca is part of a larger project: a circular and self-sufficient living model, where the home coexists with water collection systems, vertical agriculture, and automated gardens.

Technology behind the project: The Crane WASP

The technological key to Itaca is the use of the Crane WASP construction 3D printer, a large-scale modular system that allows complete structures to be printed directly on site.

✔️ Multipoint printing: Four robotic arms were used simultaneously, arranged in a hexagonal pattern, to print the walls faster and with high precision.

✔️ Eco-friendly materials: A lime-based mixture with reduced carbon emissions was used (compared to traditional cement).

✔️ Natural insulation: The wall infills were designed using rice husk from agricultural waste, helping with passive thermal insulation.

This not only demonstrates the capabilities of 3D printing technology at a construction scale, but also the versatility and sustainability of the Crane WASP.

Img 2: Crane WASP construction 3D printer. Source: WASP.

A Project That Goes Beyond a House

Itaca is not just a home, it is an experimental ecosystem:

• Vertical gardens and hydroponic systems to grow food with minimal water use.
• Solar panels and a green roof that reduce energy costs and promote biodiversity.
• Coming soon, an AI-powered automated garden to intelligently optimize crops.

The project is designed to be replicable in different parts of the world, demonstrating that 3D printing can help tackle serious challenges such as the shortage of affordable housing and the need for sustainable construction.

Video 1: 3D printing of Itaca, the first self-sufficient 3D-printed house. Source: WASP.

What Does This Mean for the Industry?

The certification of Itaca marks a turning point for 3D-printed construction. It is no longer just about prototypes or futuristic demonstrations: it is a real home that complies with technical and environmental standards.

• The Crane WASP is no longer just an innovation tool, but a proven technology in real sustainable construction projects with official certification.
• It positions itself as a strong option for companies, architects, and developers looking to adopt 3D printing in real housing projects.
• It opens doors to sectors such as sustainable agriculture, ecotourism, and modular construction.

Img 3: 3D-printed walls. Source: WASP.

Conclusion

Itaca is much more than a 3D-printed house: it is a living laboratory of sustainability, efficiency, and circular design. Its success strengthens the argument that technologies such as the Crane WASP printer can transform the way we think about and build our living spaces.