The Role of Industry Partners: the collaboration of 3DPA with WASP

The Postgraduate in 3D Printing Architecture (3DPA) recognizes the crucial role of industry partnerships in fostering innovation, providing expertise, leveraging resources, and providing technological advancements essential for shaping the future of 3D printing architecture.

3DPA has been collaborating with WASP, an Italian company that is a leader in large-scale 3D printers, for the past years. By joining forces with WASP, 3DPA has gained access to cutting-edge technologies, and innovative methodologies that push the boundaries of architectural design and construction. Through this collaboration, students benefit from hands-on experience with state-of-the-art 3D printing equipment and software, enabling them to explore new possibilities in architectural fabrication and materiality. WASP’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of 3D printing technology aligns perfectly with the Postgraduate mission to foster sustainability, experimentation, and innovation within the field of 3D printing. Furthermore, 3DPA actively engages in research and development initiatives with WASP, solidifying the bond between the two entities.

WASP’s aim is to build ‘zero-mile’ homes, utilizing materials found in the surrounding area. Such projects necessitate a portable machine with low energy consumption, especially in areas without access to electricity. Therefore, it must be capable of utilizing renewable energies such as solar, wind, and water.

In 2018, the company released the Crane WASP, the infinite 3D printer, a collaborative 3D printing system capable of printing houses. 3DPA utilized the Crane WASP for the first time to build TOVA, Spain’s first 3D printed building using earth, a project developed by students and researchers in 2021-22. The construction was completed within weeks using 100% local materials and labor, resulting in zero waste and a close-to-virtually zero carbon emission footprint. The collaboration with WASP has been ongoing for some years, during which Crane WASP was utilized to 3D print VOLTA, the final project of the Postgraduate programme in 2022-23. Currently, students are working on their final prototype, which is planned to be completed by the end of February 2024.

About 3DPA

The Postgraduate in 3D Printing Architecture is a 6-month long intensive programme in the field of additive manufacturing of sustainable architecture. Between the use of advanced technology for construction and the desire to develop a holistic design approach to architecture, we engage with different areas of research that include robotic manufacturing, material research and performance-based design. The programme seeks to develop technological and architectural solutions in collaboration with Industry partners to answer the current needs and challenges of our habitat. Discover more.