Shamballa laboratory opens in northern Italy

The Shamballa open-air laboratory and research site opened on June 8, 2026, in the hills of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. This 8-hectare complex explores sustainable living through advanced architectural 3D printing and bio-construction. A collaboration between technology firm WASP and botanical perfumery company Olfattiva produced the site, which hosts a makers laboratory, a medicinal botanical garden, and a self-sufficient farm known as Itaca.

The project functions as a technical ecosystem for developing new strategies in sustainability and circular economies. The site features automated gardens and rainwater harvesting systems alongside dedicated research and development centers. The team designed the central 3D-printed building as a replicable model that complies with regional seismic and safety standards, proving the viability of additive manufacturing for construction.

WASP utilized large-scale modular 3D printers to construct the primary housing unit using locally sourced materials like raw earth and clay. This method aims to reduce costs and environmental impact by eliminating the need for long-distance material transport. The design reflects a broader initiative to provide basic human necessities, including housing and food, through alternative building methods and localized production systems.

High aerial view of the eight-hectare experimental ecosystem showing buildings and water management systems. — The eight-hectare Shamballa site functions as an experimental ecosystem for bio-construction. Image Courtesy of WASP

Technical integration and material performance

The construction process integrated electrical systems and radiant heating directly into the 3D-printed layers to optimize the assembly timeline. The wall envelope utilizes a specialized mixture of pure NHL lime and Geolegante, provided by Kerakoll, which generates lower carbon emissions than traditional cement. The mixture also incorporates rice husk and natural insulation to improve thermal performance and breathability within the architecture.

Exterior view of two low-rise modern structures embedded into a grassy hillside near a pond. — The modern herb dryer stands alongside the main laboratory volume within the experimental landscape. Image Courtesy of WASP

Beyond the primary residential structure, the complex includes a vertical 3D-printed garden designed for hydroponic cultivation. This vertical system maximizes agricultural yield within a minimal footprint while reducing water consumption and protecting crops from pests. A dedicated laboratory on-site houses compact 3D printers that produce diverse objects, including furniture, ceramics, and biomedical devices, at various scales.

Aerial view of terraced water collection basins adjacent to an open-air pavilion. — Water collection basins form a vital element of the micro circular economy infrastructure. Image Courtesy of WASP

Landscape and biodiversity strategies

The 8-hectare botanical garden supports a reforestation and agroforestry program featuring 500 fruit trees of ancient local varieties. The team planted 50,000 aromatic and medicinal plants to facilitate the extraction of essential oils and fragrance research. This landscape serves as a testing ground for plant-based building materials and promotes biodiversity through experimental crop management.

Top-down aerial view of circular agricultural plots being managed by workers. — Workers cultivate aromatic and medicinal plants within the circular botanical garden zones. Image Courtesy of WASP

Shamballa intends to welcome the public for educational activities, including sensory workshops and olfactory experiences centered on the botanical collection. The project operates as both a functional shelter and an open-air community laboratory. By combining advanced manufacturing with traditional agricultural practices, the site provides a framework for exploring self-sufficient living models in a modern context.

Project Team: WASP, Olfattiva, Kerakoll. Location: Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

Project Notes: The team inaugurated the site on June 8, 2026. The complex includes the Itaca 3D-printed house and an 8-hectare botanical garden.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

Shamballa positions 3D printing as a restorative act, merging additive manufacturing with agrarian self-sufficiency. By utilizing raw earth and botanical waste, the project moves sustainability beyond mere carbon accounting into a totalizing landscape strategy. This technical ecosystem reimagines the home not as a static object, but as a biological participant in a circular resource loop, effectively certifying earth-based construction for modern seismic safety.

However, this pastoral high-tech synthesis risks romanticizing localized production while ignoring the scalability of the machinery involved. While the soil is local, the capital-intensive robotic systems and proprietary binders remain tethered to global industrial supply chains. This tension exposes a recurring paradox: achieving a “natural” return to the earth currently necessitates a sophisticated technological overlay that most resource-scarce communities cannot yet afford or maintain.