In a dialogue between antiquity and contemporary innovation, Mediterranea Design contributed to the artistic redevelopment of Baia Station — part of the EAV railway line connecting Naples to the ancient thermal area of the Phlegraean Fields.
Through advanced 3D scanning and additive manufacturing, Mediterranea Design recreated a series of full-scale statues originally discovered in the archaeological site of Baia and today preserved at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN).
These include the Dioscuri of Baia, symbols of hospitality and fraternity; the Aphrodite Sosandra, a Roman marble replica of a 5th-century BC Greek bronze celebrating love and beauty; four imperial busts representing Plotina, Matidia, Emperor Hadrian, and Antoninus Pius; and the Head of Apollo, inspired by the sculptor Calamis.
The digital process began with high-precision 3D scanning of the original artifacts, followed by meticulous digital cleaning and optimization of the files to ensure accurate reproduction while adapting them for large-scale 3D printing. Each statue was then printed layer by layer, assembled, hand-finished, and painted to recreate the textures and depth of classical marble.
This project demonstrates how digital technology can become a bridge between eras, giving new life to the forms of the past without altering their identity. The reproductions were first presented at Expo 2025 Osaka, within the Italian Pavilion designed by Mario Cucinella Architects, as part of the official participation of the Campania Region.
At the end of the exhibition, the statues returned to Italy to be permanently installed in the new Baia Station, transforming a place of transit into a symbolic gateway to the historical and cultural memory of the territory.
More than replicas, these sculptures embody a renewed narrative — where matter, technology, and heritage merge to make the past tangible once again.
Photo Credits: Regione Campania
CREDITS
ART DIRECTION – Studio ODA | Officina d’Architettura
3D SCANNING & DIGITALIZATION – University of Naples Federico II, Department of Architecture (Prof. M. Campi, M. Camerino, V. Cera, M. Falcone)
3D PRINTING & PRODUCTION – Mediterranea Design, Medaarch srl stp
FINISHING – Luigi Amorevole
CLIENT – EAV (Ente Autonomo Volturno)
WITH THE SUPPORT OF – Parco Archeologico dei Campi Flegrei & Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli
