Milan Bergamo Airport Unveils Italy's First 3D Printed Building — Built in Just 7 Days

Italy's First 3D Printed Airport Structure

Milan Bergamo Airport can now claim a unique distinction — it's home to Italy's first 3D printed building in the aviation sector. The structure, named "Ol Casél," is a small service facility complete with restrooms for airport staff in the customs area.

What makes this particularly impressive is the timeline: the walls were printed in just 7 days, and the entire project — including conventional elements like windows, doors, and roof — was completed in just 19 days.

WASP's Crane WASP Does the Heavy Lifting

The building was constructed using WASP's Crane WASP 3D concrete printing technology. Originally developed in Italy, the Crane WASP was the first machine of its kind to be commercialized in the Italian market, and this project demonstrates its capabilities at scale.

The walls were printed entirely using the 3D printer, while traditional construction methods were used for windows, roof, and doors once the printing was complete. The project leaders noted that the two approaches worked perfectly together, with necessary openings integrated directly into the printed structure to avoid additional work.

Sustainability Meets Design

The structure was printed using a lime-based material deposited layer by layer — a deliberate choice to minimize the project's carbon footprint. Given that construction is one of the most polluting industries globally, this approach represents a meaningful step toward greener building practices.

But the building isn't just environmentally conscious — it's also visually striking. The curved shapes would have been difficult and time-consuming to achieve using traditional construction methods, showcasing one of 3D printing's key advantages: the ability to create complex, organic forms efficiently.

The structure meets all the high-performance standards required by the airport and has undergone public validation for safety, stability, and structural integrity.

A Growing Trend

This project adds to a growing list of 3D printed buildings worldwide, from residential homes to commercial structures. For the aviation sector specifically, it represents an important proof of concept — if an airport can successfully integrate 3D printed structures into operational areas, the same approach could be applied to terminals, hangars, or other facilities.

Could travelers one day benefit from 3D printed airport terminals? Only time will tell, but Ol Casél has certainly caught the attention of the industry.