Italy's Da Vinci Bridge Reinvented with 3D Printing and Stone Scraps – 3DPrint.com

The Italian city of Bari has inaugurated a new 3D printed, self-supporting bridge that uses waste materials from stone processing for the first time. This structure, known as Da Vinci's Bridgewas launched by the Polytechnic University of Bari, WASP, a leader in sustainable 3D printing, and B&Y, an innovative Italian startup specializing in eco-friendly building materials. This pedestrian structure is inspired by one of Leonardo da Vinci's visionary designs while addressing a major environmental challenge in the construction sector.

Bridge between history and technology

The Da Vinci's Bridge The project was led by Professor Giuseppe Fallacara from the Polytechnic University of Bari. It is a reinterpretation of Leonardo's original 16th-century concept of a self-supporting bridge that would span the Golden Horn, a bay of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey that separates the historic center of Istanbul (the Old City) from the newer parts. Da Vinci's design was intended to connect the district of Pera (now Galata) with Constantinople (now Istanbul), creating a direct connection via this waterway.

Although the bridge was never built in da Vinci's time, it was notable for its ambitious design, which featured a single, self-supporting arch. This project brings his vision to life using 3D printing and sustainable materials. The six-meter-long prototype is inspired by da Vinci's self-supporting design and has been reimagined using modern 3D printing techniques and sustainable stone waste materials.

One of the most unique aspects of this project is the choice of material. The bridge will be built using an environmentally friendly mortar developed by Italian startup B&Y. Made from waste stone powders combined with a lime-based binder, this material offers a sustainable way to reuse the by-products of marble and stone processing. Traditionally, disposal of this waste in the construction industry has been challenging and often caused environmental damage. By transforming stone waste into building material, B&Y shows how creativity and technology can redefine the boundaries of eco-friendly design.

The bridge was built using WASP's 3MT LDM Concrete, a large 3D printer designed to work with cement-based materials. The process involved dividing the bridge into 13 separate blocks, each 3D printed in layers and later assembled using a temporary centering system. The design uses stereotomy, a method of cutting stones so precisely that they fit together without mortar or additional reinforcement, a technique also used in Leonardo's original concept.

A vision for the future

Da Vinci's Bridge is still a prototype, but could lead to much more. The team plans to test the strength of the materials and improve the printing process. These steps could make sustainable bridges like this a real option for future buildings.

There were also other 3D printed, self-supporting bridges, such as the Striatus Bridge in Venice by ETH Zurich and Zaha Hadid Architects, the 12 meter long pedestrian bridge in the Castilla-La Mancha city park in Alcobendas, Madrid, or the 3D printed concrete bicycle bridge in Gemert, Netherlands, Da Vinci's Bridge is unique by incorporating waste materials into the 3D printing process.

Da Vinci's Bridge was created thanks to teamwork in various areas, from science to industry. Fallacara led the design efforts at the Polytechnic University of Bari. Architects Ilaria Cavaliere and Angelo Vito Graziano optimized the model for manufacturing together with the FabLab Poliba team, a group at the Polytechnic University of Bari specializing in digital manufacturing and innovation. Meanwhile, material development was carried out by B&Y, WASP and Claudio Gallo with the support of architect Francesco Ciriello. Finally, the manufacturing itself was carried out by WASP and B&Y.

A homage to a historic design, Da Vinci's Bridge combines technology with sustainability and creativity. Projects like this, addressing the challenges of waste management in construction, prove that innovation and 3D printing come with responsibility.

All images courtesy of WASP