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.

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