VeniceArchitectureBiennale 3DPrintedConstruction SustainableDesign SoilArchitecture GreenBuildingMaterials

Printing with Earth: Innovations in Sustainable Structures

*3D Printed Earth-Fiber Mixture Created with Large-Scale Ceramic Extrusion System. Source: 3D print (image by WASP)*

The 19th Venice Biennale of Architecture, running through November 2025, highlights innovations at the intersection of natural materials, digital tools, and sustainable design. Several installations explore how 3D printing with soil, fibers, and biological elements can redefine building processes and ecological engagement.

One of the featured exhibits focuses on the development of earth-based architectural tiles using 3D printing systems. Researchers collaborated to produce hundreds of customized units composed of soil and plant-based materials. The texture and form of each tile were derived from traditional construction methods and encoded digitally to guide robotic production. The result is a structure informed by craft techniques like weaving and basketry, designed to engage all senses within a built environment.

Biological Growth Meets Structural Form

Another installation examines how printed soil mixtures can support plant growth. Using robotic equipment, teams developed a soil matrix that retained its shape while supporting germination. White Clover was selected for its resilience and ecological value. Over the course of several days, germination occurred successfully, demonstrating how architecture and biology can coexist in functional ways.

The Soil-Based Structure Measures 5 Meters in Diameter, Incorporates 14 Plant Species, and Features Approximately 8 Kilometers of Printed Pathways. Source: 3D print (image by WASP)

A separate contribution emphasizes buildings that change over time. Designers created a printed structure with embedded seeds and organisms, selecting species based on seasonal cycles and environmental compatibility. As the plants grow, their root systems interact with the surrounding material, creating an evolving form that is meant to live, stabilize, and eventually biodegrade. This approach integrates structural intent with ecological cycles.

Earthen Rituals Installation on Display in the Arsenale Section of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. Source: 3D print (image by WASP)

New Pathways for Ecological Construction

Throughout the exhibition, additional 3D printed structures reinforce the use of local soils and modular components. Dry-assembly methods allow these structures to be disassembled and reused. Emphasis is placed on circularity, low-impact materials, and responsive environmental design.

Sources: 3dprint.com, 3dwasp.com, 3dprintingindustry.com