The Da Vinci’s Bridge project combines technological innovation and sustainability, offering a new approach to the world of responsible construction

After over a year of research and experimentation, the prototype of the "Da Vinci’s Bridge" has been completed: a pioneering project that combines technological innovation, eco-sustainability, and design, inspired by one of Leonardo da Vinci's most visionary works. The project is the result of a multidisciplinary collaboration between the ArCoD department of the Polytechnic University of Bari and leading companies in the fields of 3D printing and stone processing, representing an important step forward in the field of eco-sustainable construction and the use of innovative materials made from processing waste.
The Da Vinci’s Bridge is based on a project by Professor Giuseppe Fallacara and is inspired by Leonardo’s design for a self-supporting bridge that would connect the Pera district (present-day Galata in Beyoğlu) with Constantinople (today’s Istanbul), spanning the Golden Horn. The prototype created, conceived as a pedestrian bridge, has a span of approximately six meters and reinterprets Leonardo’s vision to adapt it to the needs of the experiment.

3D Printing of Waste Materials from Stone Processing
A distinctive aspect of the project is the use of a highly innovative and eco-sustainable material: a low-environmental-impact mortar made from waste stone powders and a lime-based binder. This solution, developed thanks to the expertise of the italian start-up B&Y by Vincenzo Gurrado, demonstrates the potential of reusing waste materials in the construction and design sectors. B&Y stands out for its ability to transform processing residues into sustainable solutions for 3D printing, combining creativity and technology.

The 3D printing of the bridge was carried out in collaboration with WASP, a leading company in the use of additive manufacturing with sustainable materials for construction. As the technical enabler of the project, WASP provided its machines and the team's expertise for the creation of the blocks that make up the bridge.
For the construction of the bridge, the overall structure was divided into 13 blocks with variable layers, 3D printed using WASP 3MT LDM Concrete, the large-format 3D printer for cementitious materials. The blocks were then assembled by the University of Bari using a system of temporary centering. Thanks to the principle of stereotomy, utilized by Leonardo in its original project, the bridge is able to self-support.
The Da Vinci’s Bridge represents an important starting point for further developments: the next steps include the evaluation of the mechanical properties of the materials used and the refinement of the printing process. These results could pave the way for new applications in the architectural sector, promoting a more sustainable and technologically advanced vision.

Project credits:
- Design: Prof. Giuseppe Fallacara (Politecnico di Bari)
- Model optimization for fabrication: arch. Ilaria Cavaliere (Politecnico di Bari), arch. Angelo Vito Graziano (Politecnico di Bari, FabLab Poliba), Mattia Morandi (WASP).
- Optimization of the material: B&Y, WASP, ing. Claudio Gallo (Politecnico di Bari), arch. Francesco Ciriello (Politecnico di Bari)
- Fabrication: WASP, B&Y, Gurrado Marmi Progettazione: Prof. Giuseppe Fallacara (Politecnico di Bari)

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