In the heart of Medellín’s Comuna 13—a neighborhood celebrated for its vibrant culture and transformation into one of the most visited tourist sites in Medellín—stands an 11-meter-tall symbol of peace: the largest 3D-printed Christ sculpture in Colombia. Crafted by visionary team D3House and empowered by Creality’s cutting-edge 3D printing technology, this project demonstrates how 3D printing can accelerate production, reduce material waste, and open new avenues for sustainable public art.
The Ceremony of the Largest 3D-Printed Christ Sculpture in Colombia
An Integration of Art and 3D Printed Engine
Led by CEO Alejo (Mechatronics Engineer) and co - founder Juanes (Civil Engineer & Real Estate Developer), D3House brought together a diverse team with specialized roles. In the production center, Pedro García and Juan Galindo oversaw print operations, ensuring the smooth running of the 3D printers.
D3House CEO Alejo and Co-founder Juanes at Creality Workshop
Daniel Bolívar was in charge of the technical and maintenance area, working to ensure uninterrupted printer performance. Santiago Saldarriaga led the design and conceptualization area, refining module geometry for seamless assembly. José Román was responsible for the post - processing and finishing of projects, handling fiberglass reinforcement and surface finishing.
D3House leveraged lessons from their prior 4.5 - meter Pachamama sculpture to perfect modular 3D printing. Using 15 Creality printers (K1 Max, K1, and Ender - 3 V3), the team produced 1,699 lightweight PLA modules with astonishing precision. They used 245,637 grams of PLA filament, chosen for its balance of strength, light weight, and sustainability. This material allowed for fine details, such as creases and textures, and facilitated post - processing with fiberglass.
The hollow, puzzle - like design of the modules was a key innovation. It reduced the weight of the sculpture by 40% compared to traditional methods, while enabling simultaneous printing across multiple machines and efficient assembly. To ensure the sculpture's rigidity and durability, layers of fiberglass with epoxy resin were applied to the interior and exterior of the shells, making it resistant to wind, rain, and erosion. This approach also allowed for the capture of intricate details like facial expressions and fabric folds that traditional methods couldn’t achieve.
Creality Technology in Action
K1 Max: Upgraded Unicorn nozzle prevented jams and boosted efficiency by 30%, ideal for large modules.
https://www.creality.com/products/creality-k1-max-3d-printer
K1 & Ender-3 V3: High-speed printing with sustainability and precision.
https://www.creality.com/products/creality-k1-3d-printer
https://www.creality.com/products/creality-ender-3-v3
Overcoming Challenges with Excellence
Completing the project in just 6 months (3.2 months of active 3D printing using the 15 Creality printers working in parallel to produce the modules, and 2.8 months of post - processing and assembly, including fiberglass reinforcement, structural joints with internal steel, and surface finishes) required flawless coordination.
A real - time dashboard system was implemented to track printer assignments, the progress of each phase, and the exact PLA consumption per unit. This allowed the team to detect immediate deviations, efficiently reallocate resources, and close the project with only 2% wasted material, a remarkable achievement for sculptures of this scale.
During the project, there was a critical moment when all 15 printers were working at capacity limits. Several failed simultaneously due to the intense workload and extreme working conditions, and the team didn't have a full maintenance team or specialized tools for rapid repairs. For 72 hours, while waiting for spare parts, progress stalled at 40%. However, the team quickly redesigned their strategy: they reassigned operational printers to priority modules, implemented preventive maintenance shifts every 8 hours, and adapted critical parts with strategic cuts to save time. This crisis taught them to always incorporate 30% redundant capacity in new projects.
Behind the Scenes: D3House Team Interview
Watch this interview to see how D3House team overcame this critical challenge, discussing real-time problem-solving strategies and lessons learned in large-scale 3D printing operations.
Impact and Aspirations
The sculpture has become a cultural landmark, drawing tourists amazed by its artistry and stability. Its success has sparked government interest in 3D printing for public art and infrastructure. Building on this momentum, D3House aims to shatter records again with the 86-meter Cristo del Peñol, set to be the world’s tallest 3D-printed statue. Accompanied by an on-site 3D Printing Operations Center, this project will invite visitors to witness live production, positioning Colombia as a global hub for additive manufacturing and tech-driven tourism.
A New Era for Monumental Art in Colombia
The Christ of Comuna 13 isn’t just a sculpture—it’s proof that technology and creativity can redefine urban renewal. By merging sustainability, speed, and artistic detail, D3House and Creality have set a brighter future of public art in Colombia.
D3House: https://www.d3house.com/
Creality: https://www.creality.com/