The housing development proposal Madre Natura is a concept for modular and sustainable structures that would be 3D-printed with steel. Inspired by Italian sculptor and muralist Costantino Nivola’s piece titled La Madre, the buildings combine architecture and sculpture in one beautiful form. Mask Architects, the designers behind the proposal, would be the first architects to use what they describe as a 3D-printed exoskeleton construction called Exosteel.
The design of the development is closely related to its site in Orani, a commune on the Italian island of Sardinia. The architects hope that the structures in Madre Natura will help to reinforce a local identity where natural beauty is combined with contemporary technology. Rendered in the dramatic terrain of the mountainside, the development will become a recognizable staple of the area while engaging with the local climate.
Each module includes an energy tower that reinforces the architects’ mission of giving back to the site. Buildings are designed with voids to mitigate damage from the strong wind experienced on the island. The wind is then directed to wind turbines, which—along with solar panels on the energy tower—will generate energy for the entire development.
In addition to using technology for the construction of the buildings and for the generation of power, Madre Natura would also use technology to protect the landscapes. Smart cameras and fire detectors will help to protect the area from forest fires and other natural disasters. The architects also imagined how the modules could be used during other emergency situations. They want the development to be completely adaptable to all situations.
Keep scrolling for more images of Madre Natura rendered in the beautiful Sardinia landscape at different times of the day.
Madre Natura is a proposal for sustainable modular houses built using 3D-printed steel exoskeletons.
