These may appear like ancient desert civilisations constructed them centuries ago.
But actually these are the world’s first eco-sustainable houses – 3D printed in Italy using locally-sourced soil – and could one day be the homes of the future.
Mario Cucinella is the architect behind them. He hopes this’state of the art building technology’ will help to reduce homelessness in areas that are displaced by natural and emergency-related disasters.
What is the future? These are the world’s first eco-sustainable houses – 3D printed in Italy using locally-sourced soil
Mario Cucinella (pictured left) is the inventor of these innovative building technologies. He hopes they will help to reduce homelessness, and also aid in rebuilding communities affected by natural disasters or emergencies.
Massa Lombarda has seen the construction of its first domed home. It was built using multiple 3D printers simultaneously.
In a reference to technology and clay, he has called them TECLA homes.
‘We like to think that TECLA is the beginning of a new story,’ said Cucinella.
“It would really be amazing to change the future with this ancient material and the technologies that we have now.
“The aesthetics in this house resulted from a technical effort and not an aesthetic approach.
He added: ‘The goal was to match the agenda of 2030 in Europe of zero emissions.’
Massa Lombarda has seen the construction of its first domed home. It was built using several 3D printers simultaneously.
You can create them in as basic form in less than 200 hours.
This prototype measured in at 645 square feet. It was built in layers and did not require scaffolding.
It is comprised of two bulbous and round shapes that are merged. No cost has yet been revealed by Cucinella.
There is enough space to fit a bedroom, a bathroom, and a living area. The interior also has fitted furniture such as chairs and tables that have been made using a 3D printer.
Cucinella states that the beauty of this design is its ability to send a printer to a disaster area to print out a copy, so that construction can then begin for victims who have been rebuilt.
Photo of prototype: It measures in at 645 feet. The layers were built without scaffolding.
It is comprised of two cylindrical, bulbous structures combined together. Cucinella has not yet revealed the cost.
There is enough space to fit a bedroom, a bathroom, and a living area. The interior also has fitted furniture such as chairs and tables that were made using a 3D printer.
A 3D printer can adapt the dome design to fit the specific environment in which a tsunami or earthquake might occur.
Cucinella said, “If I am designing a building that will be in hot or arid conditions, I should protect it and create thicker walls so it can breathe.”
He hopes to also add the ability of collecting rainwater and purifying it.
The project was recognized as a groundbreaking example in zero-carbon construction at Build Better Now. This virtual exhibition took place during the COP26 Climate Change Summit held in Glasgow.
Cucinella explained that the beauty of this design is its ability to send a printer to a disaster area to print out a copy, so then construction can start on homes for victims.
A 3D printer can adjust the dome to fit an environment that may be affected by flooding, tsunamis or earthquakes.
The project was chosen to be a model of zero-carbon construction as part of Build Better Now. This virtual exhibition took place at the COP26 Climate Change Summit in Glasgow.
What is the FLOATING ISLAND PROJECT?
An international group of investors, academics, and philanthropists plans to create an independent floating country by 2022.
The £37 million ($50 million) plans will see the sea-bound city state, with 300 homes as well as a handful of hotels, restaurants, offices and more.
Bankrolled by Paypal founder Peter Thiel, the Floating Island Project will operate outside of governments laws and regulations, and is due to be built in the Pacific Ocean off the island of Tahiti.
The first floating city will be home to between 250-300 people, according to the plan.
Artist’s impression: The Pacific Ocean, off Tahiti in Tahiti will soon be home to the world’s first floating country. The nonprofit Seasteading Institute will build a few hotels, houses, offices and restaurants over the coming years. This institute hopes to “liberate humanity” from political interference.
French Polynesia (a collection of 118 island in the Southern Pacific) has joined the partnership. It is an area that is vulnerable to rising sea levels.
The island – the brainchild of nonprofits organisations the Seasteading Institute and Blue Froniters – is being funded by philanthropic donations via tokens of the project’s own cryptocurrency, dubbed Varyon.
The Seasteading Institute says that the backers of the project envision floating islands with hundreds of people operating autonomously from foreign governments. They want to “liberate humanity” from the sway of politicians.
These floating islands could be home to aquaculture farms, hospitals, research centers, as well as sustainable energy plants.