Back in August of this year, the ancient Italian town of Amatrice was left in rubble following an earthquake. While the earthquake struck many towns in central Italy, it was Amatrice that was hit the worst. The final death toll for the earthquake was 297, and a considerable portion – 234 – were from Amatrice. In addition to the huge loss of life, Amatrice also seemed to lose part of its identity through the damage to its architecture. The town is known for its history and this was heavily contained in the architecture which was destroyed by the earthquake. In order to support the rebuilding process Italian 3D printing company Digital Wax Systems (DWS) aims to immortalize the town in 3D printed form. The effort is being made in order to preserve Amatrice in a new form, while hoping to preserve some of its original identity.
The 3D printed Amatrice model
The intricate model was showcased during the October Maker Faire in Rome. It was printed using DWS’ own printers and materials, solely using its XFAB system which was also recently showcased in the UK at iMakr’s digical show. Cultural conservation project Scan the World was also present at the show, who have similarly preserved the recently destroyed Syrian Arch of Triumph from Palmyra. DWS put forward the Amatrice project in collaboration with Slic3r creator Alessandro Ranellucci, and the architect Michele Calvano.
There are more details about the XFAB printer here.
The model takes the form of several blocks of 12.5 cm x 12.5 cm combining to produce the 4 m x 2 m model town. The 3D printed models have a minimal amount of post production, they are simply given a quick wash and a cycle of UV curing.
The impressive model has since been donated to the Municipality of Amatrice as a sign of goodwill and support for the victims of the tragedy.
Featured image shows the full model of Amatrice via: Digital Wax Systems
