VIRTUAL ISTANBUL HERITAGE(S)
Abstract
The project describes the construction of a modular bench made of raw earth, developed as part of a broader investigation into sustainable self-building systems. The bench is composed of interlocking units with a truncated octahedron geometry, generated through parametric spatial tessellation. From the digital model, custom formworks were designed and fabricated using 3D printing technologies. Each block was cast using a natural, viscous earth-based mixture and manually demoulded once cured. The hollow geometry of the units allows for the integration of a dual reinforcement system: a geopolymer-stabilized earthen grout poured into the internal cavities, and a series of bamboo rods inserted longitudinally to form a structural network. The components were assembled dry, enabling fast, low-tech construction with minimal environmental impact. The bench was built using Earth Beehive, a construction system developed specifically for this purpose, which combines raw earth masonry with digital design and natural reinforcement strategies. The project reinterprets vernacular earth construction through contemporary tools, combining computational design with material experimentation. As a result, it delivers a performative, context-sensitive structure that is both durable and fully compostable. The methodology developed through this prototype provides a scalable workflow for the production of urban furniture and small-scale architectures using earth-based materials and digital fabrication.
Daniele Colapinto, architect and PhD student at the Polytechnic University of Bari. His research focuses on the integration of earthen construction techniques, parametric design, and digital fabrication for sustainable architectural innovation. Technical expert at Fablab Poliba, where he contributes to experimental prototypes and research activities on raw earth, computational workflows, self-construction, and context-sensitive design.
Nicola Parisi, Architect, Associate Professor at the Polytechnic of Bari. Professor of “Architectural Design” in the MSc program in Architecture and “Co-Working and Co-Design” in the MSc program in Industrial Design. Director of Fablab Poliba – the Technological Centre for Digital Fabrication. Involved in national and international research projects, summer schools and workshops on digital fabrication, earthen architecture, sustainability, self-construction and urban regeneration.
Vincenzo Berardi graduated in Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Bari with a thesis entitled Self Made Architecture VII – Updating the Torchis Technique. The graduation studio investigated torchis, an earth-based construction technique, by reconstructing its historical development and systematising its variations across different continents. The research then examined the advantages and limits of this hybrid building method and proposed its possible update through digital fabrication technologies, leading to the development of the Earth Net Beehive prototype. This experience allowed him to deepen his knowledge of digital fabrication, particularly 3D printing and laser cutting, and to strengthen his skills in three-dimensional and parametric modelling with software such as Rhinoceros and Blender. In 2024, he was awarded a Post-Lauream Scholarship within the project “PATTI TERRITORIALI WP6 – Strengthening Interdisciplinary STEM Degree Programmes – Orientation”, CUP F61B23000370006. The 18-month programme focused on the systematisation of repeatable digital literacy processes related to CAD/CAM workflows, further developing his computational and teaching skills through research activities, workshops and applied training experiences. In 2025, he was awarded a PhD Scholarship in “Design for Heritage, Knowledge, Tradition and Innovation” at the ArCoD Department of the Polytechnic University of Bari. His doctoral research investigates the role of artificial intelligence in architectural design, with particular attention to how AI models are transforming design processes, tools and epistemological paradigms, contributing to the definition of a hybrid human-machine design paradigm. Since the 2023–2024 academic year, he has been a teaching assistant in Architectural Design Studio 2C, directed by Prof. Architect Nicola Parisi. Since 2024, he has also been a member of the FabLab Poliba research group, where he carries out research, prototyping, experimentation, training and scientific dissemination activities in the field of digital fabrication, promoting dialogue between academic research, technological innovation and design practice in both local and international academic contexts.