Italy's First 3D Printed Airport Building Opens at Milan Bergamo

Construction 3D Printing Goes Mainstream

Milan Bergamo Airport has officially opened its first 3D printed building — a milestone for Italy's aviation sector and a striking example of how construction 3D printing is moving from experimental to real-world application.

The structure, named "Ol Casél," is a small service facility equipped with restrooms for airport staff in the customs area. What makes it remarkable isn't just the technology — it's the speed. The building was erected in just 7 days, with the entire project completed in 19 days.

How It Was Built

The project used WASP's Crane WASP 3D concrete printer — the first machine of its kind to be commercialized in Italy. All the walls were 3D printed layer by layer using a lime-based material designed to reduce the project's carbon footprint.

Once the walls were printed, conventional construction methods were used to add the windows, roof, and doors. The project developers integrated the necessary openings directly into the printed structure to avoid additional work later.

More Than Just a Experiment

This isn't a demonstration project — it's a fully operational building that meets all the high-performance standards required by a working airport. According to 3Dnatives, the structure has undergone public validation for safety, stability, and structural integrity.

The curved shapes achieved would have been difficult and time-consuming to create using traditional construction methods. The building showcases how 3D printing can deliver both aesthetic uniqueness and practical results in a fraction of the time.

With this project, Milan Bergamo Airport becomes the first in Italy to host a 3D printed structure — and likely not the last.