Architect Marco Galofaro used three Form 4L printers and Fast Model Resin to produce 953 tile molds for a massive 7×6.8 m model of Rome in under a month.
An Ambitious Architectural Challenge
When architect Marco Galofaro was tasked with creating a 7.13 × 6.8 metre scale model of Rome for the MAXXI National Museum of 21st Century Arts' exhibition ROMA NEL MONDO (Rome in the World), the timeline was daunting: fewer than 30 days. The exhibition, curated by Professor Ricky Burdett of the London School of Economics, explores Rome's urban transformation and its global significance.
The Workflow: Form 4L + Fast Model Resin
Working with Italian Formlabs reseller 3DiTALY, Galofaro's team settled on a fleet of three Form 4L MSLA 3D printers paired with Fast Model Resin — Formlabs' fastest resin material, capable of printing at up to 80 mm/h on the Form 4L. The team printed molds into which terracotta was then cast, each 17 × 17 cm tile averaging just 15 minutes of print time.
Impressive Numbers at Scale
- 953 tile molds produced across the project
- 1,000 litres of Fast Model Resin consumed
- 48 m² of total tile area covered
- 26 days from start to completion
Why Precision Mattered
Each tile required exceptional dimensional accuracy — the finished terracotta pieces had to align seamlessly with one another and synchronise precisely with projected maps overlaid on the installation. The Form 4L's reliable print engine and the resin's smooth surface finish made this level of detail achievable at speed.
3D Printing Meets Cultural Heritage
This project demonstrates how large-format SLA printing can serve architectural and cultural applications far beyond traditional prototyping, delivering museum-quality results under real-world time pressure.
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