Heidelberg Materials brings 3D printed concrete to Milan Design Week 2026
The installation at Solferino 28, designed by Mario Cucinella Architects, features cement modules produced with a high-performance extrusion mortar developed by the company
Heidelberg Materials Italia will present a large-scale 3D printed concrete installation at Milan Design Week 2026, running April 20–26, as part of the “Città delle Idee” project commissioned by Corriere della Sera to mark the newspaper’s 150th anniversary. The installation, designed by architect Mario Cucinella, Founder & Creative Director of MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects, occupies the courtyard of the historic Corriere della Sera complex at Solferino 28 in Milan’s Brera Design District.
The structure is composed of approximately one thousand interlocking modules in two distinct sizes, made from pre-printed concrete slabs that generate different spatial configurations depending on their assembly. The printing operations were carried out by Erratic, a Vicenza-based company specializing in industrial robotics and additive manufacturing systems for construction.
i.tech 3D NF for concrete 3D printing
The mortar used for the project, branded i.tech 3D NF, is a fiber-reinforced cementitious mix formulated specifically for extrusion-based 3D printing. Alessandro Morbi, Technical Assistance Coordinator for the Technology and Quality Division at Heidelberg Materials Italia, described the material’s key characteristics: aggregate diameter does not exceed 4 mm, and the mix must remain fluid enough for continuous pumping while maintaining sufficient viscosity to ensure interlayer adhesion and buildability. Setting times are calibrated to prevent premature drying between deposited layers.
Morbi noted that the mortar achieves roughly double the compressive strength of conventional concrete, the result of low water-to-cement ratios and the use of pozzolanic materials that densify the cementitious matrix. More than 15% of the material content is recycled, and polymeric fibers are incorporated to control cracking.
MCA-style
MCA has been developing research in 3D printing since 2019, with a focus on off-site and close-to-site fabrication processes. Lapo Naldoni, Senior R&D Specialist at MCA, said the project required close integration between Heidelberg Materials’ mortar properties and Erratic’s printing platform. The Erratic system is compact and transportable, while offering precise control over extrusion and pumping. The installation comprises six distinct element types, two of which were produced with 3D printed cement mortar. The process included controlled interruptions in the print flow to integrate self-locking systems between modules — a requirement that placed demands on both material consistency and process reliability.
“Città delle Idee is not only an installation, but a dynamic laboratory that transforms visitors into conscious creators of new forms for inhabiting urban space,” said Mario Cucinella, Founder & Creative Director of MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects.
Evening programming at Solferino 28 runs until 21:30 Tuesday through Saturday, with three expert talks scheduled on April 22, 23, and 24 at 18:30 in the central agora formed by the installation.
