From Earthquake Rubble to Rebirth: The Startup That 3D Prints the Future

Every year in Europe, 510 million tons of construction and demolition waste are produced , with a cost of 45 billion euros just for their treatment. Faced with this environmental and economic emergency, a startup from the Marche region has found an innovative response: transforming the drama of the earthquake rubble into an element of rebirth and regeneration. This is the mission of Centauroos , an innovative 3D printing startup for construction and architecture that reuses construction and demolition waste , with a prominent role in the experimentation of the rubble of the 2016 Crater. By exploiting the potential of 3D printing of concrete, the young company addresses the problem of construction waste management, simultaneously reducing the use of materials and construction times.

From the laboratory to the central square

Founded in 2020 by architects Roberto Cognoli, Marco Galasso and Giovanni Marinelli and supported by Invitalia funding, in the last two years it has seen the expansion of its corporate structure with the entry of the entrepreneur Stefano Panichi, with a strategic and commercial role, and the designer Ernesto Cesario, a senior figure in the design team.

The first concrete experimentation of this technology is already visible in the heart of Ascoli Piceno: the information Totem located in the central Piazza Roma represents Centauroos' first investigation into circularity, exploring the possibility of directly reusing demolition waste from post-earthquake reconstruction operations. The result is an information totem that shows the evolution of the San Domenico reconstruction project on a screen, informing citizens about the progress of a fundamental work for the rebirth of the city. In this perfect circular flow of materials, the same demolition waste is reused to take the shape of the totem, the bench and the flower box, combining innovative and tailor-made design with a link to the traditional processing of Ascoli stone.

Innovation in recycling

The strength of the startup lies in the research and development component carried out by the founders who, compared to other companies in the same sector, identify the significant percentage of recycled material and the size of the inert material in the mixture used in 3D printing processes as the main point of differentiation. Up to 30% of inert material in the mixtures represents a significant result in reducing the use of virgin cement. The printed parts are easily assembled to form the final architectural element, ranging from street furniture to buildings. The production process not only reduces the environmental impact but also offers significant economic advantages, addressing the problem of disposal costs that weigh on the European budget for billions of euros.

Water as design inspiration

Centauroos will also be the protagonist of the conference "The Future of Water" , the first event of the cycle "Connecting Architecture and Design for Social and Environmental Sustainability", which will be held on June 27, 2025 at the Ex Magazzini Rossini in Macerata, promoted by the Department of Design and the Study and Research Center of the Academy of Fine Arts of Macerata. "The startup has an approach to circular and adaptive design , based on the integration of recycled materials and computational design, which allows to limit the use of virgin concrete, reducing the overall environmental footprint of the building process - comments Ernesto Cesario, professor of Ecospace Design at the Academy -. A method that shows how the link between industry and natural resources can become more sustainable and innovative, using recycled materials and 3D printing to reduce water consumption and environmental impact".

The conference will feature prototypes and case studies, such as 3D-printed street furniture that collects and manages rainwater, adaptive and site-specific objects designed to make cities smarter and more resilient in the face of climate change.

Towards a circular future

Soon it will be possible to see other creations of the startup in the historic center of Ascoli . The project is made possible thanks to the collaboration that Centauroos has started with the designer Ernesto Cesario, creating an urban furniture that will soon become an integral part of the central square and a concrete example of how technological innovation can marry with the local architectural tradition.

Sustainability, reuse, research, experimentation and innovation are the values ​​on which Centauroos bases its philosophy and its activity. In an era in which Europe is facing the emergency of construction waste with billions of dollars in costs, this startup represents a new perspective for sustainable regeneration, where the circular economy is not just a theoretical principle but a concrete practice that restores dignity and usefulness to what seemed destined only for the landfill.