The Bernascone Lion, a monument restored with LATI's contribution in support of Varese's artistic and cultural heritage
3d Printing
3d Printingbyadmin

A Project Blending Art, Technology, and Innovative Materials

To give the city of Varese the opportunity to admire up close one of the eight granite lions that watch over the Bernascone bell tower: this idea sparked a unique project, realized with life-size 3D printing.

The protagonist is LATI3Dlab, the laboratory of LATI Industria Termoplastici dedicated to the formulation and development of materials for 3D printing. LATI3Dlab enthusiastically embraced the proposal from the Parish and the restorers of Gasparoli, combining scientific expertise and advanced technology to transform art into innovation.

From 3d Scanning to Sculpture: the Realization Process

The creation of the “technological” sculpture involved several specialized entities, each with a key role:

  • PSFACTORY handled the 3D scanning and modeling of the original mascaron, accurately reproducing the lion’s geometry.

  • LATI3Dlab selected and produced the technical plastic material granules, designed to ensure strength, durability, and ease of printing.

  • Randaplast extruded the 3D filament used to print the various sections of the statue, which were then joined into a single life-size work.

The result is a faithful replica of the original granite model, obtained with a large-scale 3D printer.

From Technology to Art: the Stone-Imitation Finish

Once the printing was completed, the artistic post-production phase began: a manual intervention that carefully reproduced the color, texture, and veining of natural stone.
The 3D lion thus created has become the “ninth guardian” of the city, visible in the Piazza del Battistero in Varese, right next to the famous Bernascone bell tower.

Innovation in Service of Tradition

This project demonstrates how 3D printing and LATI3Dlab’s innovative plastic materials can breathe new life into art, enhancing cultural heritage with sustainable technologies and high-level technical solutions.

📽️ Watch the video that tells the story of the work’s creation: from the initial idea to the realization of the 3D lion.

👉 Learn more about LATI3Dlab