MANUFACTURA Develops Bio-Based Construction Material Using Corn Waste and Robotic 3D Printing
The design practice MANUFACTURA has created CORNCRETL, a sustainable building material composed of corn byproducts, recycled nejayote wastewater, and lime-based aggregates. This innovation aims to address environmental challenges in Mexico's construction sector by reducing carbon emissions up to 70% compared to conventional concrete. The material integrates historical Mayan lime techniques with modern robotic 3D printing technology, developed during a 2025 residency in Massa Lombarda, Italy. CORNCRETL represents a circular economy approach, utilizing agricultural waste streams for scalable housing applications while minimizing material waste through additive manufacturing.
Key facts
- CORNCRETL reduces carbon emissions by up to 70% compared to traditional concrete
- The material combines corn residues, recycled nejayote, and lime-based aggregates
- Robotic 3D printing eliminates formwork, reducing material waste by up to 90%
- Development occurred during the WASP Residency 2025 in Massa Lombarda, Italy
- The project addresses environmental and social challenges in Mexico's construction industry
Entities
Artists
- Dinorah Schulte
- Edurne Morales
- Andrea Menardo
- Jorge Armando
Institutions
- MANUFACTURA
- WASP 3D Industrial Partners
- Zeitgeistructures
- TAKO KWEEN + TLAXCALLI
Locations
- Mexico
- Massa Lombarda, Italy