3d printed house case study

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3D Printed House 1.0

3D Printed House 1.0 (3D打印的房子 1.0) is a case study in 3D printing major components of a 3D printed house for the Jin Hai Lake Resort Beijing. The house demonstrates an integration between traditional construction methods and 3D printed manufacturing. Whereas most visions for a 3D printed house demand a very large 3D printer, The 3D Printed House 1.0 considers the use of a 3D printer farm that employs a battery of 3D printers to print building components, 3D printed bricks and tiles, using renewable and innovative materials, such as salt and a unique cement polymer. It also highlights as objects the rooms that contain the public and private spaces within the house.

Inside, the private spaces of the house—the bedrooms, bathrooms and family dining room are housed in translucent 3D printed double hieght and two story tall vessels constructed of  3D printable salt polymer  based on The Saltygloo .

The interior of the salt volumes capture light from skylights above, creating a series of glowing translucent rooms within the concrete box.

The vessels serve as objects that define spaces within the larger volume, as well as contain intimate spaces within.

Outside, adjacent to the pool, is a free standing 3D printed pool cabana, also in salt polymer, to heighten the tension between the water and the spaces of salt.

The exterior cladding of 3D Printed House 1.0 will be constructed 3D printed using a special  3D printed fiber reinforced cement polymer, developed by Emerging Objects  utilizing our Picoroco Block . The variegated pattern allows for views and light to pass through in some areas of the wall, but not in others. The quality of light and shadow constantly changes across the surface with the passing of the day. Major structural components of the house will be comprised of cast in place concrete, plastered white.

The interior of the 3D printed facade wall reveals the bumpy surface’s underlying geometry—a series of interconnected pentagons, hexagons and quadrilateral shapes whose terminus is a circle.

Translucency, porosity and openness are all tested in the different material conditions and inform the optics, lighting, views and thresholds between adjacent spaces.

Prototypes of the 3D printed salt rooms were constructed at full scale to demonstrate the potential of 3D printed architecture.

Project Date: 2013 Project Location: Beijing, China Client: Jinhai Lake Development Design Team: Ronald Rael, Virginia San Fratello, Eleftheria Stavridi, Seong Koo Lee.

10 Examples of 3D-Printed Houses

3D-printed houses can be made in a matter of hours at a fraction of the cost of conventional construction methods.

It’s a rare occasion when something debunks the “too good to be true” principle, such as 3D printing an entire house in less than 24 hours. And yet, here we are .

What Are 3D-Printed Houses?

Three-dimensional-printed houses are structures that are built layer by layer using an industrial-grade, 3D-printing technology. This method of additive manufacturing is also known as construction 3D printing.

As tenants move into 3D-printed houses in the first years of their commercial listing debut, 3D printing is on a 23.5 percent compound annual growth rate over the decade to come, according to Grand View Research. These dwellings — often sharing a gray, shapely appearance with a ribbed texture — are even piquing the interest of NASA , which funded a $57 million project to develop tech for moonside 3D-printed infrastructure .

Highly customizable and free of form, construction 3D printing is a new-age tech on the verge of market disruption, holding the potential to mass produce housing.

Three-dimensional-printed houses are life-size dwellings that use 3D printing as its primary means of construction. With minimal human oversight, these highly customizable structures can be built on-site or off-site within a matter of hours at a fraction of the cost.

Typically, 3D-printed houses feature free-form, curvilinear shapes made out of a cement mix. Projects span from inhabitable beta prototypes under study to move-in-ready affordable housing and even high-end luxury homes.

Aside from time and money, several other reasons explain additive manufacturing’s disruption to the construction market. Many see this type of low-waste, computerized homebuilding delivered from an industrial-scale printer as a way to shelter unhoused communities and a gateway to sustainable , biodegradable housing solutions.

How Are 3D-Printed Houses Built?

Industrial-sized 3D printers build entire multi-unit housing developments one tiny layer at a time. This repetitive process puts the “additive” in “additive manufacturing.”

Following a digital blueprint, a 3D printer will dispense a paste-like mixture. This will consist of choice ingredients — often a cement blend — but can range from sand and special polymers to bio-resins, like soil, clay or wood flour, which is a fine sawdust mixed with a corn-based binder.

How Long Does It Take To 3D Print a House?

Industrial-sized 3D printers have made it possible to print an entire house in less than 24 hours.

Keep in mind that a project’s “printing time” may exclude time for any second-fix installations or construction time necessary to piece together a project printed on-site and transported to its final location.

And if you’re trying to build something of scale, like a house, the 3D printer itself has to outsize it. Made out of a steel, quad-truss framework — the kind you’d see as part of a concert stage — these industrial-grade 3D printers form a sort of hollow cube. On top, a robotic arm zips along a track, following pre-programmed instructions being read from the blueprint.

Much like your desk-side inkjet printer, the mixture is then heated during a thermal extraction process. The paste squeezes through a nozzle, bringing the digital rendering into physical form. Before the next layer is applied, the mixture is solidified by a concrete dryer. This process repeats until all uploaded building elements are complete.

It’s important to note that additive construction work sites are not entirely autonomous . Aside from the setup and breakdown of the equipment, human oversight is necessary to ensure there are no technical hiccups. Specialists must be on-site to cut holes for second-fix installments, such as plumbing, electrical wiring, doors and windows.

How Much Does a 3D-Printed House Cost?

Of course, this number will vary from project to project, and face further price contingencies based on the hired companies and materials used (let alone geographic location, size, amenities, design complexity, and so on). 

With that being said, developers stateside and abroad report cost savings of up to 30 percent.

Three-dimensional-printed houses first hit the U.S. market at the start of 2021. The 1,407-square-foot house — complete with three bedrooms, two baths and a two-car garage in Riverhead, New York — listed as “the world’s first 3D-printed home for sale” for $299,999 on Zillow.com.

ICON, a 3D-printing construction company, said it could produce a 600 to 800-square-foot, economy-sized building for as low as $4,000 in 24 hours , as reported by Business Insider .

Models on the more affluent side of the market can surpass $1 million. Known as House Zero , the mid-century, ranch-style luxury home is a 2,000-square-foot property with a 350-square-foot accessory dwelling unit. Just based on size and location, Zillow estimated the price of this four bedroom, three-and-a-half bath estate at $723,000 to $908,000, according to online specialty magazine All3DP . However, its one-of-a-kind, exceptional design may push it into the seven-digit price range.

When Will 3D-Printed Houses Become Available?

Some already are — such as Project Milestone (listed below), which had its first tenants move in on April 30, 2021, or this three-bedroom, Virginian house , which became move-in ready in just 12 hours.  

Examples of 3D-Printed Houses

1. BioHome3D

The University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center is 3D-printing housing structures exclusively from bio-resins and wood fibers to combat labor shortages and widen access to affordable housing . The demo project, known as BioHome3D, begins with a 600-square-foot prototype that features a fully 3D-printed floor and roof. As a whole, the one-bedroom, one-bathroom building is 100-percent recyclable, made up entirely of biodegradable materials, including wood flour. As a prototype, BioHome3D is equipped with monitoring sensors, measuring thermal, environmental and structural elements, to gather resilience-based data to better inform future designs.

2. Citizen Robotics’ 3D-Printed Home

In 2023, housing construction company Citizen Robotics built the first 3D-printed house in Michigan, with design assistance from developARCHITECTURE and the president of the Detroit chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects. Citizen Robotics applies robotic and automated construction techniques to reduce the costs and materials needed for home construction. Its 1000-square-foot, two-bedroom home and attached wall segments were 3D printed at the company’s Southwest Detroit facility, then placed and assembled on-site in the Islandview neighborhood of Detroit. The home became available for purchase in 2024 .

3. East 17th Street Residences

These four Austin, Texas properties by construction 3D-printing company ICON feature open-floor plans, minimal architectural aesthetics and private yards. Varying in size, these residences feature two to four bedrooms and range from 1,000 to 2,000-square-foot homes. Each ground floor level is built with a proprietary cement-based material, dubbed “ Lavacrete ,” to last longer than traditional construction materials, according to the company’s website. The second story incorporates old-school methods, and is constructed out of black metal cladding and rich-colored timber. They share a color palette of green, white and terracotta and have all been sold.

4. House 1.0

With the help of 3D-printing construction manufacturer COBOD , Danish startup 3DCP Group constructed Europe’s first 3D-printed tiny house in 2022 in just five weeks ; however, the structure itself printed in just 22 hours. Located in Hostelbro, Denmark, this 398-square-foot structure is composed of three sections that merge at an open, triangular-shaped core. Inspired by the no-frills aspect of student living , the space is economically laid out and contains all the necessary amenities — a bathroom, open-plan kitchen, living room and loft-style bedroom on a raised level. Sebastian Aristotelis, architect at Saga Space Architects who designed House 1.0, said that the project was built at the lowest possible cost, with developers opting for inexpensive materials, like concrete, and constructing the project using a low-to-no waste approach.

More on 3D Printing 26 3D-Printing Companies to Know

5. House Zero

ICON teamed with architectural firm Lake|Flato to build a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath residence just outside of downtown Austin, Texas. Its curved walls and rounded corners are insulated with Lavacrete and reinforced with steel. Paired with a one-bedroom, one-bath accessory dwelling unit, ICON’s website styles the 2,350-square-foot property — which printed in under two weeks — as a “mid-century modernist ranch house aesthetics.” Given its design to consume net-zero energy, Time named House Zero to its Best Inventions of 2022 list. In the months since, ICON has broken ground on a 100-home project known as the Genesis Collection — noted as the largest 3D-printed residential community in the United States — with homes for sale as of 2024 .

In just three weeks, Belgian company Kamp C 3D printed its namesake demo house in one piece, at the property location. Developers claim that the building holds a compressive strength three times greater than conventional brick, which is largely credited to a special printer supplied by COBOD, a 3D-printing construction company. Smooth surfaces and thick layers fortify the trial model. Unlike other projects at the time — and even now — this house features two stories and was constructed in one piece. It’s just under 27 feet tall, about the size of a residential telephone pole, and spans 967 square feet. Its sustainable design uses low-energy floor and ceiling heating, sourced from solar panels and a heat pump.

7. Mense-Korte

Mense-Korte ’s 3D-printed house , located in Beckum, Germany, is the first in the world to become fully certified by a national government’s building regulation. This modernist, three-bedroom, three-bathroom home measures 1,722 square feet of living space, complete with a sophisticated interior and smart-home technology. Fortified by multi-shell walls casted with in-situ concrete, the curvy structure took nearly eight months to build, including 100 hours of active printing time. Amenities like a fireplace, bathtubs and a balcony are integral to the design, with spaces specifically molded for second-fix installations.

More on 3D Printing Utility  5 3D Printing Applications in Construction

8. Mighty House Quatro

Nestled away in a gated, hilltop community in southern California, Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects have built a 20-home, net-zero development that aims to consume as much energy as it generates. Constructed in around four months, each home includes two bedrooms and two bathrooms across a 1,171-square-foot space built on top of a hot spring aquifer. Fitted in a modern, minimal aesthetic, these properties include a swimming pool, hot tub, fire pit and floor-to-ceiling windows. The project collaborator, construction company Mighty Buildings , models its manufacturing process after the automotive industry. Operating highly scalable micro-factories, its 3D-printing methods perform at twice the speed of traditional construction, and, as an additive manufacturer, its projects generate 99 percent less waste, according to the company’s website. Mighty Buildings has also developed a proprietary light stone material that cures into a stone-like composite with four times the tensile and flexural strength of concrete materials currently in common practice of architectural 3D printing.

9. Project Milestone

Project Milestone — which consists of five 3D-printed concrete dwellings — was the world’s first commercial housing project in its medium, with full intent to legally house residents. The first of these 1,011-square-foot dwellings was printed in 120 hours on-site as 24 separate parts. Matching their backdrop of Eindhoven, a techy city in the Netherlands known for its cutting-edge design, Project Milestone houses resemble elongated boulders with smooth, rounded edges. With extra-thick insulation and a connection to the heat grid, these structures score high marks in energy efficiency, according to online media platform 3D Natives . Its first tenants, Dutch couple Elize Lutz and Harrie Dekkers, received their key on April 30, 2021.

In development with 3D-printing firm WASP , Italy-based studio Mario Cucinella Architects set out to create bioclimatic, low-carbon proof-of-concept housing in response to escalating climate emergencies and housing crises worldwide. Standing out from the crowd, Tecla’s tan, double-dome structure is constructed out of 350 layers of locally sourced clay from a nearby riverbed. A portmanteau of “technology” and “clay,” Tecla is a 538-square-foot structure that stands at about 15 feet tall and features two skylights. The eco-habitat is made entirely out of organic, bio-materials. Of the 200 hours it took to fully construct the project, the active printing time lasted 72 hours .

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a 3d-printed house cost.

3D-printed houses cost about $10,000 to $400,000 on average , but pricing can vary based on the house’s location, size, amenities and materials used.

How long does it take to 3D print a house?

It may take about 24 hours to three weeks to 3D print a house, excluding time for second-fix installations or material transportation if pieces are not printed at the final house location.

Where can I buy a 3D-printed house?

Some real estate marketplaces like Zillow, or some homeownership assistance programs like Habitat for Humanity, can sell 3D-printed houses. Companies building 3D-printed houses may also list them for sale directly.

What is the downside of a 3D-printed house?

Some downsides of building or using 3D-printed houses include the following:

• Limited expertise in 3D-printed home construction
• Limited or unclear legislation for building 3D-printed houses (depending on location) 
• 3D-printed homes can be difficult to change or alter once fully built
• Cement, a material commonly used for 3D-printed houses, has a high carbon footprint

Recent 3D Printing Articles

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ICON and Lake Flato build 3D-printed House Zero in Austin

Construction technology outfit ICON and architecture studio Lake Flato have completed a 3D-printed , modern ranch-style home in Austin to be displayed during the SXSW festival.

ICON , the company to first sell ready-to-own 3D homes in the US, worked with San Antonio and Austin-based architecture studio Lake Flato to design House Zero.

The home is sited in a single-family residential neighbourhood in East Austin, Texas, and was built using ICON's Vulcan construction system.

The system uses 3D printing, a technology that dispenses layers of material mechanically based on a computer program, to lay the walls of the 2,000-square-foot (186-square-metre) home. The 3D-printed wall aspects took 10 days to print.

"House Zero is ground zero for the emergence of entirely new design languages and architectural vernaculars that will use robotic construction to deliver the things we need most from our housing: comfort, beauty, dignity, sustainability, attainability, and hope," said Jason Ballard, co-founder and CEO of ICON, in a release.

Reinforced by steel, the walls are printed with a proprietary material ICON calls Lavacrete – a cement-like substance that is air-tight while also providing increased insulation.

"We let the Lavacrete lead the way," Ashley Heeren, associate architect for Lake Flato, told Dezeen. "We could then use other materials in ways that were not only honest to their nature but also supported and complemented the concrete".

"While the organic nature of the 3D-printed concrete and curved walls are new design languages for us, House Zero was still entirely in line with the natural connections we seek in our architecture," said Heeren continued.

"The home expresses our shared passions for craft and performance in an inviting and comfortable family home constructed through a totally new way of building".

According to ICON, the home was built using biophilic design principles, claiming that the soft curves of the 3D-printed support walls create "naturalistic circulation routes throughout the home".

In addition to being able to build houses faster, the technology could mean that homes like this could be built at lower cost.

House Zero has three bedrooms with two and a half baths, along with a one bed and bath accessory dwelling unit . While the exterior walls are composed of the soft lines of the Lavacrete, many of the interior walls, ceiling, and rafters are made of wood.

"It’s regional and sensible and welcoming so, in that way, it’s what a really good mid-century ranch house wants to be," said Lewis McNeel, associate partner at Lake Flato. "And yet the new technology has freed it from rigid stylistic definitions and easy labels."

The living space at the front of the home is surrounded by the semi-circular Lavacrete walls punctuated by glass that provides views of the street. The flat roof is supported by rafters that run the width of the home and cantilever into awnings.

ICON does not currently have plans to sell House Zero, the company told Dezeen, but instead will use it as a place to bring "partners, architects, organisations, developers, and showcase the future of homebuilding".

The building was completed in time for the SXSW festival, which takes place in Austin from 11-20 March 2022.

In terms of sustainability, McNeel said that both the insulation properties and the cutting down of material used makes it a viable option.

"You can eliminate a number of separate materials and construction steps on a job site if you can print the equivalent of cladding, sheathing, thermal breaks, formwork for structure and interior finish all in one pass of the printer," he said.

3D-printed houses have been gaining in popularity worldwide and even beyond.

ICON has been active in this push, working with designers like Yves Behar to create a 3D-printed community in Latin America as well as with BIG and NASA to plan buildings for the moon .

The photography is by Casey Dunn .

• 3D-printed houses
• Architecture
• 3D printing
• Residential

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Step into the future – 3D-printed houses are here and in high demand 

Cutting costs, saving time and eliminating waste – can 3d-printing reshape residential architecture as we know it.

Mentioned in this article

Nitika Choraria

Nitika is a design writer who graduated in Digital Management from Istituto Marangoni Milano. For her - design is a boundless medium of self-expression that encapsulates a balance between functionality and aesthetics.

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Biomaterial

Better, faster, greener. 3D-printed houses are revolutionizing the way we think about home construction, offering a sustainable, cost-effective, and highly customizable alternative to traditional building methods.

With 3D printing seamlessly replacing a traditional building system and pushing the current limits of innovation – the future of homebuilding has changed. A reality synonymous with smart manufacturing, 3D printing makes up a prominent part of Industry 4.0 remolding construction as we know it.

According to Grand View Research – the global market size of 3D-printed houses was valued at USD 13.84 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.8% from 2022 to 2030. Globally, 2.2 million units of 3D printers were shipped in 2021 and the shipments are expected to reach 21.5 million units by 2030.

Competing to develop the best technology, industry players have been further engaged in a space race of sorts – literally too, with even NASA brilliantly utilizing and reaping the benefits of 3D printing .

What are the benefits of 3D printing?

With the construction industry facing times of uncertainty due to a lack of skilled workers, increased costs, global housing shortage, disaster-hit regions and the effects of climate change –  refreshingly new digital and sustainable capabilities of additive manufacturing is here to help. 

Since 3D printing allows for high design flexibility, it’s easy to achieve a balance between form, function and aesthetics. 

Without a doubt, this process offers significant potential to increase efficiency and productivity. Not only does it offer a high degree of planning reliability from the start, lowering chances of design errors and worker injuries – but it also requires low coordination and monitoring efforts. Construction time reduces drastically with this, which also translates to fewer costs.

Its environmental benefits are additionally endless. It – minimizes material use, uses natural, organic or recycled materials, generates less waste, decreases transportation needs as well as reduces carbon footprint. 

How does 3D printing work? 

Simply put, three-dimensional shapes are at first designed through a computer-controlled process without the use of formwork. 

Skillfully utilizing a large printing machine, concrete or other materials from soil to mortar, special polymers or recycled and other plastics is extruded layer-by-layer to then effortlessly form foundations, walls, columns, stairs as well as other building elements. 

Since this system is portable, it’s perfectly suitable for off-site, prefab production and in-situ application – eliminating the need for frequent relocation and calibration. 

Now that you’re all caught up – scroll to explore these eclectic but one-of-a-kind 3D-printed houses that have already been built across the globe!

1. House Zero

A project that is as fascinating as it’s beautiful, construction technology company ICON and architecture studio Lake Flato present a 186-square-meter 3D-printed, modern home in Austin – House Zero .

Featuring three bedrooms with two and a half baths, along with a one bed and bath accessory dwelling unit – it stands out with its undulating forms and unique ribbed texture harmoniously blended together with a mid-century modern expression.

“House Zero is ground zero for the emergence of entirely new design languages and architectural vernaculars that will use robotic construction to deliver the things we need most from our housing – comfort, beauty, dignity, sustainability, attainability and hope” says Jason Ballard, ICON Co-Founder and CEO.

Created for net-zero energy, this climate-responsive space is built utilizing ICON’s Vulcan construction system that uses 3D printing – a technology that dispenses layers of material mechanically based on a computer program, to lay the walls of this home. 

Reinforced by steel, the walls are printed within 10 days with a proprietary material ICON refers to as Lavacrete – a cement-like substance that is air-tight while additionally providing increased insulation.

While the exterior walls are composed of the soft lines of the Lavacrete – its interiors, ceiling as well as rafters are made of wood making the aura feel soothingly warm. 

Timeless, rooted-to-the-earth and truly a demonstration of what living could be like – it draws attention to the natural world through its sustainable biophilic design principles.  

2. Mighty Buildings

Mighty Buildings completes this 159-square meter 3D-printed net-zero home in southern California as part of a 40-unit community in Desert Hot Springs that explores environmental and economic development strategies.

Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects (EYRC) created this alluring two-bedroom and two-bath house, known as the Quatro, which the team says will produce as much energy as it consumes using Mighty Buildings’ flexible, panelized kit of parts.

“We are excited to be the first company in the world to complete what we believe to be the sustainable housing standard of the future” says Slava Solonitsyn, CEO Mighty Buildings. “As a result, housing developers will no longer have to choose between profitability, quality, design and protecting the planet!”

The exterior composite stone wall panels have been 3D-printed in a factory in Oakland and the proprietary material – known as Light Stone – is a concrete alternative with four times more tensile and flexural strength, 30 percent less weight and less carbon dioxide, according to Mighty Buildings.

With a minimalistic material palette, it comprises white oak casework and flooring, stainless steel fixtures, glazed white tile and quartz countertops. 

Along with accommodating solar technology, its robotic coating application increases resistance to hurricane winds, high water, fire, mold, insects as well as extreme temperatures.

3. Project Milestone

Nestled in a suburb of Eindhoven, this 94-square-meter boulder-shaped concrete single-storey house is built as part of a five-home 3D-printing scheme named Project Milestone and designed by Dutch architects Houben and Van Mierlo. 

This project marks Europe’s first legally habitable property where residential real estate investor Vesteda is the owner, renting it out to private tenants.

Embodying an organic geometry – this space includes an open-plan kitchen-diner and living area that occupies over half of the floor plan, while a large double bedroom and bathroom are contained within the remainder of the home.

Its curved, sloped exterior walls have been constructed through printing layers of stacked concrete to form 24 individual components.

“With the printing insulated and self-supporting wall elements curved in three planes, we’ve taken important steps in this project in the further development of 3D concrete printing in construction” says Weber Benelux, CEO Bas Huysmans.

Inside, the home’s stacked concrete walls are left exposed to reveal its layered texture while the floor-to-ceiling windows interrupt the concrete layers and are recessed within its thick walls.

4. House 1.0

Built in collaboration with modular 3D construction printer company COBOD and Saga Space Architects, 3D-printing startup 3DCP Group unveils House 1.0 – the first 37-square meter 3D printed concrete home in Europe based in Holstebro.

Encompassing triangular volumes arranged circularly and connected by an open middle core, this small house is created to be as affordable as possible while comprising all necessary amenities featuring – a living room, an open-plan kitchen, a bedroom and bathroom.

The entire building, including its roofs and foundations, is made of low-cost real concrete using a large construction 3D printer by COBOD.

Meanwhile, its interior is characterized by warm wood, responding to Nordic building traditions.

“We can offer this at a price that is far below what it would cost using conventional construction methods!” says 3DCP.

Printed in one piece with Europe’s biggest 3D printer and the world’s first – this 90-square meter two-story home by Kamp C is sited on grounds in Westerlo.

Printed as part of the European C3PO project with support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) – the idea behind this house was to use the achievement to encourage the construction industry to implement 3D concrete printing in their techniques.

Stronger than a home built with quick building blocks – “the compressive strength of the material is three times higher than the classic rapid building block” says Marijke Aerts, Project Manager Kamp C. 

Its printing technique makes the concrete formwork superfluous, saving an estimated sixty percent of the material, time and money. 

In addition to the fibers contained in the concrete, only minimal shrinkage reinforcement was utilized. If one adds up all the printing days – this entire space will be printed in less than three weeks!

Bologna-based architecture studio Mario Cucinella Architects and 3D-printing specialists WASP collaborated to create a 60-square meter low-carbon housing prototype named Tecla – a combination of the words technology and clay.

Developed as part of an eco-sustainability research study, this structure is 4.2 meters in height and comprises a living space, kitchen, and sleeping area with an organic aesthetic and is fitted with services as well as a circular skylight on its roof.

Designed utilizing clay sourced locally from a nearby riverbed and printed in Massa Lombarda – this home is formed of two connected dome-shaped volumes with a ribbed outer wall that is made up of 350 stacked layers of 3D-printed clay.

Providing structural stability and acting as a thermal barrier, the prototype was constructed using a modular 3D printer that utilizes two synchronized arms, each with a 50-square meter printing area that can print modules simultaneously.

By using this technology, housing modules can be built within 200 hours while consuming an average of six kilowatts of energy and reducing typical construction waste.

Weaving together ancient building techniques with modern technology to form recyclable, low-carbon, climate-adaptable housing – “we like to think that Tecla is the beginning of a new story!” says Mario Cucinella Architects.

7. BioHome3D

The University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) unveils BioHome3D – the first 56-square meter 3D-printed house made entirely with bio-based materials on the world’s largest polymer 3D printer.

Comprising 3D-printed floors, walls and roofs of wood fibers and bio-resins, the home is fully recyclable and highly insulated with 100% wood insulation and customizable R-values. 

Construction waste was nearly eliminated due to the precision of the printing process.

Given Maine’s chilly and blustery climate, the team plans to use sensors to monitor the structure’s hardiness, as well as recycle it five times, which means that the materials will be put through a grinder, remade into a letter form and utilized again in 3D printing. 

“The process is repeated five times to evaluate five recycling opportunities that may cover 500 to 1000 years of reuse!” they say. 

8.  East 17th Street Residences

Meticulously designed by Logan Architecture, developed by 3Strands and built from 3D-printed concrete by construction technology company ICON – East 17th Street Residences has been completed in the heart of the East Austin community.

Featuring stunning two two-bedroom homes and two four-bedroom homes, that took five to seven days to print each – the ground-floor walls were built using ICON’s Vulcan construction system, which utilizes a robotic armature to layer the Portland-cement-based material Lavacrete into striated surfaces.

This process created a stronger and longer-lasting building material compared to traditional techniques, making the houses tougher in the face of extreme weather.

The interiors were designed by Austin-based Claire Zinnecker – “who chose a simplified color palette of green, white and terracotta as well as fixtures that play off the natural materials” says ICON.

The open-plan spaces further have a neutral muted palette with wood cabinetry, woven rugs and touches of greenery.

9. Wolf Ranch

In what is set to become the “largest-scale development of 3D-printed homes globally,” Danish architecture studio BIG and American 3D-printing firm ICON have successfully completed a full-sized model home.

Situated in the Wolf Ranch neighborhood of Georgetown, Texas, near Austin, this pioneering house represents a collaboration between Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and ICON. As part of an ambitious project, local construction firm Lennar is currently working on the construction of 100 houses, with this particular home serving as an exemplary model for prospective buyers.

The community of 3D-printed homes seamlessly combines the timeless charm of contemporary Texas ranch style with elevated architectural elements and energy-efficient designs. These innovative homes showcase the advantages of resiliency and sustainability, achieved through the cutting-edge possibilities of additive construction.

Utilizing ICON ‘s Vulcan robotic construction systems, sophisticated software, and advanced materials, these homes are swiftly and efficiently delivered at scale. The construction process minimizes waste and provides unparalleled design freedom by 3D-printing the entire wall system, both interior and exterior walls.

What type of materials can be used?

3D-printed houses offer a wide range of material options that can be used to construct these innovative structures. One commonly used material is concrete, which is sturdy, durable, and readily available.

Concrete mixtures specifically formulated for 3D printing enable the printers to layer the material effectively. Another material gaining popularity is bioplastics, derived from renewable sources such as cornstarch or algae.

These materials are eco-friendly and can be easily melted and extruded by the printers. Additionally, composite materials, such as a combination of fibers and resins, are being explored for their high strength-to-weight ratio and flexibility in design.

It’s worth noting that ongoing research and experimentation continue to expand the range of materials that can be used in 3D-printed houses, opening up possibilities for sustainable and cost-effective construction.

3D-printed houses: what’s next?

To truly imagine a future where 3D printing becomes the norm for mass housing – there are still many challenges to overcome in order to replace traditional methods. From adapting to countries’ strict construction requirements, addressing high-density areas, responding to varying weather conditions, improving the circularity of materials, reducing its carbon footprint and making the technology even more affordable. 

It all starts, nonetheless, by continuing to invest, explore and innovate. These successfully 3D-printed houses certainly point the industry in the right direction and even though there’s still a lot of potentials to be explored in other markets – it’s clear that 3D construction printing is here to stay.

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The First 3D Printed House ‘Gaia’ Built With Soil, Rice Husks, and Straws

Italian 3D-printing technology developer WASP constructed this  beautiful, eco-sustainable 3D printed house using natural materials such as soil and agricultural waste. It is built to demonstrate the abilities of the company's 3D printer Crane WASP . The house was printed on-site in Massa Lombardo, a town in the Italian region in October 2018. The project is named 'Gaia' because of its use of raw earth as the main binder of the essential mixture. The firm used 25% of soil taken from the site (containing 30% clay, 40% silt and 30% sand), 25% rice husk, 40% from straw chopped rice and 10% hydraulic lime). Read this post below at SURFACES REPORTER (SR) to know more interesting points about the project:

Also Read: Indias first 3D printed House by IIT-M alumni | SR News update

The company claims that the resulting product is completely biodegradable and, "If the building isn't maintained, it will turn back into soil," stated the company.

Construction Process

The house was built with the modular Crane Wasp printer that can produce homes in a number of formats and sizes.

At first, the constituent mixture is layered using a 3D-printer hovering over through a crane making walls with vertical voids inside, which are then filled with the waste from rice production, such as chopped rice husks and straws for insulation. RiceHouse supplied the vegetable fibres for the project.

According to the firm, this insulating method keeps the temperature inside the house comfortable and warm, avoiding the need for using heaters during the winter.

The mixture is layered using a 3D printer suspended from a crane, creating walls with vertical cavities inside, which are then filled with rice husks for insulation.

Also Read: Casa COVIDA is a 3D Printed Home Made From Sand, Straw, Mud, Clay And Other Organic Materials | California | Emerging Objects

They kept the outer cavity in the wall empty for proper air circulation in the structure and allowed for an energy supply to be fixed within the home walls.

A bio-plaster for coating the structure's internal walls and the roof are also made from rice husks to provide a layer of insulation.

Time and Money Efficient Project

The company finished the construction of the house within ten days (100hours). Also, the mud mixture used to create the house cost them less than a thousand pounds. So, overall, it is a cheap and time-saving project.

"Gaia is a highly performing structure in terms of energy, with almost no environmental impact," the company stated

Based on the statements said by the WASP, 'agricultural waste could become a major resource in the building industry.' The company further said, "It is possible to conceive a future scenario in which one hectare of cultivated paddy field can become 100 square metres of built environment,"

Also Read: A 3D Printed Bio Based Micro Home for a Post Covid Future by Oliver Thomas and Amey Kandalgaonkar

Although this house was built with waste from agricultural production, several other natural and recycled materials are being used in 3D printing for construction these days.

Project Details

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3D printed houses may be the future of the construction industry

Katherine Davis-Young

Affordable housing advocates say 3D printed homes could be a game changer, but so far they haven't proven cheaper to build than conventional houses.

Copyright © 2022 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

L&T Construction completes India’s first 3D printed two-storey building in 106 hours

Following the 3D printing of a one-storey house back in November of 2019, India’s largest construction company, Larsen & Toubro Construction (L&T), has now completed the country’s first 3D printed two-storey building.

With a modest floor space of 65m ², the building was fabricated using a large-format concrete 3D printer supplied by OEM COBOD , and is made up of a locally sourced 3D printable concrete mix developed by L&T’s own in-house team. Located at the company’s Kanchipuram facility near the city of Chennai, the building even has integrated reinforcement bars, and is fully compliant with all of India’s building codes.

M. V. Satish, Director & Senior Executive Vice President of Buildings at L&T, states, “3D concrete printing is one of the technology disruptors with the potential to radically redefine construction methodologies and I am extremely happy that by demonstrating our growing expertise in 3D printing, we are well positioned to push the boundaries of automated robotic construction.”

Printing with real concrete

The fact that L&T printed the building using its own real concrete mix is a major milestone in and of itself. According to COBOD, the vast majority of 3D printed buildings to date have been constructed using ready mix mortars, which are relatively easy to print with.

Unfortunately, ready mix mortars have a maximum particle size of 4mm, meaning they tend to be weaker than traditional concrete due to a lack of coarse additives, all while being significantly more expensive to produce. Furthermore, mortars generally do not adhere to the building codes of most countries, limiting the material’s scalability.

Impressively, L&T’s building also featured vertical reinforcement bars and horizontal welded mesh distributors, and was printed in a grand total of 106 hours.

Henrik Lund-Nielsen, Founder and General Manager of COBOD, adds, “L&T Construction’s project marks a huge step forward for our industry, on a global scale. Not only is the project showing that more and more conventional construction companies are adapting 3D printing, but the 3D printing of a real concrete made by L&T themselves is significant, as this helps to drive down the cost even further. It is really impressive how L&T developed the 3D printable concrete and applied integral horizontal and vertical reinforcement in the building.”

The push for 60 million houses

The project could not come at a better time, as India is currently striving to build 60 million houses as part of the ‘Housing for All by 2022’ program. L&T has stated that it expects the recent 3D printed building to pave the way for further work, providing real housing for the country’s citizens. The company strongly believes that additive manufacturing will result in higher throughput construction, all while improving the build quality of new residential properties throughout the region.

The benefits of COBOD’s concrete 3D printing technology are not limited to India either, as construction company PERI Group recently announced the commencement of its own project to 3D print a three-floor commercial apartment building on-site in Wallenhausen, Germany. The news came just a few months after the company revealed it was 3D printing the first ‘market ready’ building in Germany , in the town of Beckum.

Elsewhere, in the Flanders region of Belgium, building company Kamp C also 3D printed an entire two-floor, 90m ² house using a COBOD system. Beyond just being a one-off test run, the model home is intended to showcase the advantages 3D printing can bring to the construction sector. Through experimentation with the printer, the Kamp C engineers managed to diminish heat loss and significantly reduce condensation.

Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter for the latest news in additive manufacturing. You can also stay connected by following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.

Looking for a career in additive manufacturing? Visit 3D Printing Jobs for a selection of roles in the industry.

Featured image shows India’s first 3D printed two-storey building. Photo via COBOD.

Kubi Sertoglu

Kubi Sertoglu holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, combining an affinity for writing with a technical background to deliver the latest news and reviews in additive manufacturing.

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Transforming Construction: 2024 Guide to 3D Printing in Construction with 6 Detailed Case Studies

Over the past decade, 3D printing has become a buzzword, and for good reason. Although 3D printing in Construction was first created with the goal of product development, it has evolved to the point where it has emerged as a major player in a number of industries, such as the construction industry.

3D printing in Construction is a new technology that replaces some manual work with a machine that builds and assembles structures. This can be a more cost-effective, convenient, and ecologically friendly method of creating new structures. Understanding the advantages of 3D printing in Construction might help you evaluate whether the technology will help you expedite operations and boost client satisfaction.

The purpose of this article is to learn about 3D printing in Construction and review 6 case studies.

Table of Contents

What is a 3D Printed Building?

A building that is made utilizing additive manufacturing processes, more specifically 3D printing in Construction, is referred to as a 3D printed building, 3D printed structure, or 3D printed construction. In order to create the structural elements of a structure, materials, usually concrete or other kinds of construction-grade materials, are deposited one layer at a time.

Large-scale 3D printers that can extrude the building material in a regulated manner in accordance with a pre-programmed design are often used in the process of 3D printing buildings. The material is deposited layer by layer as the printer builds the structure according to a digital model or design of the construction.

3D printing in Construction, also known as additive manufacturing, has emerged as a transformative technology in various industries, including the construction sector. Here are some reasons why 3D printing in Construction is important:

Speed and Efficiency : 3D printing in Construction makes construction operations quicker and more effective. The building of complicated structures using 3D printing can be done quickly and in a fraction of the time it would take to use traditional construction methods. Construction schedules can be greatly shortened as a result, and productivity can rise.

Cost Reductions : 3D printing in Construction can result in cost savings by automating the construction process. It decreases the need for physical labor, cuts down on waste, and maximizes resource use. Furthermore, on-site construction of structures using 3D printing can be done to save on shipping expenses associated with using prefabricated components.

Design Freedom : 3D printing in Construction offers immense design flexibility. It allows architects and engineers to create intricate and customized designs that would be challenging or impossible to achieve with traditional construction methods. This technology enables the construction of complex geometries, organic shapes, and unique architectural features

Sustainability : It’s becoming more and more vital to use sustainable construction methods, and 3D printing in Construction can help with that. Reducing construction waste, utilizing less energy, and using eco-friendly materials are all achievable with 3D printing. The careful management of material use also contributes to maximizing resource efficiency.

Customization & Adaptability : With the aid of 3D printing in Construction, it is now simpler to alter structures to meet particular needs. When building in distant or difficult regions or in areas subject to natural disasters, this level of adaptability is very beneficial. Rapid prototype and iterative design procedures are made possible by 3D printing in Construction, simplifying necessary alterations and advancements.

In conclusion, 3D printing in Construction has the potential to completely transform the construction sector by providing cost-effective, sustainable, and personalized construction solutions while also introducing novel techniques and streamlining processes. Technology’s influence on construction will probably get even more profound as it develops.

Guide to 3D Printing in Construction

3D printing in construction revolutionizes traditional building methods by layering materials to create structures. This concise guide outlines key steps for successfully implementing 3D printing in construction projects.

• Design Phase: Begin with a comprehensive design that considers structural integrity, material requirements, and project specifications. Collaborate with architects and engineers to create a 3D model compatible with construction-grade materials.
• Material Selection: Choose suitable materials for 3D printing, emphasizing durability, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with the chosen printing technology. Common materials include concrete mixtures, polymers, and composite materials tailored for construction purposes.
• Printing Technology: Select an appropriate 3D printing technology based on project scale and requirements. Options range from robotic arms and gantry systems to large-scale 3D printers. Consider factors such as printing speed, precision, and build volume.
• On-Site Preparation: Prepare the construction site by setting up the 3D printing equipment and ensuring a controlled environment. Calibrate the printing system, taking into account environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.
• Printing Process: Initiate the printing process according to the programmed design. Monitor the construction in real-time, addressing any issues that may arise. Adjust parameters as needed to ensure the accurate layering of materials.
• Post-Processing: After the printing is complete, conduct necessary post-processing tasks. This may include removing support structures, surface finishing, and ensuring the structure meets quality standards.
• Quality Assurance: Implement a robust quality assurance process to verify structural integrity and adherence to design specifications. Conduct inspections, material testing, and structural assessments to guarantee the safety and longevity of the printed structure.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with local building codes and regulations governing 3D-printed structures. Collaborate with regulatory bodies to obtain necessary approvals and certifications for the construction project.
• Maintenance and Monitoring: Establish a maintenance plan and implement monitoring systems to track the long-term performance of the 3D-printed structure. Periodic assessments can identify potential issues and ensure the structure’s continued safety and functionality.

By following these steps, construction professionals can navigate the 3D printing process efficiently, creating innovative structures with reduced construction time and costs. Stay informed about advancements in technology and materials to continually enhance the effectiveness of 3D printing in construction.

3D Printing in Construction Examples

Innovations in 3D printing are reshaping the construction landscape, offering unprecedented possibilities in design, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. This section explores notable examples where 3D printing has been employed to create structures, from residential homes to intricate bridges, demonstrating the transformative potential of this technology in the construction industry.

1. Tecla House

Architects : MCA Architects

City : Ravenna, Italy

Project Year : 2021

Photographer : Iago Corazza ©

Tecla House, Printed in Massa Lombarda, Italy, Tecla is a combination of the words technology and clay and inspired by the historical cities of Italy and to create a link between the past and today’s technology, the home was designed by Mario Cucinella Architects and constructed and engineered by Wasp using clay sourced from a nearby riverbed.

The Building is formed of two connected dome-shaped volumes with a ribbed outer wall that is made up of 350 stacked layers of 3D-printed clay. The clay layers are arranged in wavy layers that provide structural stability and a thermal barrier.

The prototype was built utilizing a multilayer, modular 3D printer with two synchronized arms, each with a 50-square-meter printing surface capable of manufacturing components at the same time.

According to the construction team, employing this technique, housing modules may be produced in 200 hours while consuming an average of six kilowatts of energy and reducing typical construction waste almost totally.

Tecla is comprised of two continuous parts that combine to form two circular skylights that emit “zenith light” through the use of a sinuous and uninterrupted sine curve.

The unusual shape of Tecla, including its complex geometry and external ridges, is a testament to 3D printing’s capability of balancing intricate design and structural stability

Inside, Tecla includes a combined living room and kitchen, as well as a sleeping area with amenities, spanning an area of about 60 square meters. The furnishings, partially 3D printed from local soil, are designed to be recyclable or reusable, fitting into the raw-earth building, in line with the core values of this circular house model.

Tecla was developed as part of an eco-sustainability research study that looked to bioclimatic principles and vernacular architecture and construction to produce low-carbon homes, and that shows a beautiful, healthy, and sustainable home can be built by a machine, giving the essential information to the local raw material.

2. House Zero

Architects : Lake Flato Architects

Built by : ICON

City : Austin. Texas

Project Year : 2022

Photographer : Casey Dunn ©

The “House Zero” idea, created by Texas-based Lake | Flato Architects, was unveiled by construction technology company I CON. It is the first project in ICON’s “Exploration Series,” which aims to “shift the paradigm of homebuilding” by highlighting the architectural possibilities made possible by additive manufacturing and creating new design languages. The house’s material honesty blends the expressiveness of robotic construction methods with the textures of natural wood to create a timeless design.

The home is situated in a single-family residential neighborhood in East Austin, Texas, and was built using ICON’s Vulcan construction system.

The technique uses 3D printing that mechanically dispenses material layers according to a computer program, to build the 2,000 square foot (186 square meter) house’s walls. Ten days were needed to print the 3D-printed wall components.

The walls are reinforced with steel and covered with a special material ICON called Lavacrete, which resembles cement and increases insulation while being airtight.

According to Jason Ballard, co-founder and CEO of ICON, “House Zero is ground zero for the emergence of entirely new design languages and architectural vernaculars that will use robotic construction to deliver the things we need from our housing: comfort, beauty, dignity, sustainability, attainability, and hope.”

ICON claims that the home was constructed utilizing biophilic design principles and that “naturalistic circulation routes throughout the home” are created by the smooth curves of the 3D-printed support walls.

In addition to being able to build houses faster, the technology could mean that homes like this could be built at lower cost.

3. 3D Printed Two Story House

Created by : Kamp C

Built by : COBOD

City : Austin, Texas

Photographers : Kamp C © & Jasmien Smets ©

Belgian company Kamp C has 3D-printed  with Europe’s biggest 3D printer an entire two-story house. featuring 90 square meters, the house was printed in one piece with a fixed printer, making it the world’s first.

According to Kamp C project manager Emiel Ascione, “What makes this house so unique is that we printed it with a fixed 3D concrete printer.”

The two-story 3D-printed house is three times more durable than a house made of lightweight building blocks. According to Marijke Aerts, project manager at Kamp C, “the compressive strength of the material is three times higher than the classic rapid building block.” It will be examined whether the solidity will be maintained over time in this first house, which is a test structure.

There was very little shrinkage reinforcement required, except from the fibers already present in the concrete. Concrete formwork is unnecessary because of the printing technology. The amount of time, money, and material saved is reportedly 60% as a result. In the future, a house might, for instance, be printed in just two days. The house at Kamp C will be printed in a little under three weeks if all the printing days are added up.

The European C3PO project, which seeks to hasten the use of 3D printing in Construction in Flanders, Belgium, made it possible to construct the current home.

According to the company, 3D printing in Construction could aid architects in avoiding blunders.

The utilization of BIM technology is required when using the print process, according to Aerts.

In a sense, you build your house upfront during the design stage. Numerous potential blunders can be avoided, she continued.

“Many potential expenses can be avoided. Once you have a nice design, it is fairly simple to adjust some of the parameters.

4. Milestone Project

Architects : Houben & Van Mierlo Architects

City : Eindhoven, Netherlands

Photographer : Bart Van Overbeeke  ©

The first 3D printing in Construction in the Netherlands was given to its residents on April 30, 2021. The Eindhoven home, the first of five built as part of the “Milestone Project,” complies in full with all applicable building regulations.

The one-story structure has 94 square meters of floor space, which includes a living room and two bedrooms. Its shape is modeled after a sizable boulder, which blends in well with the surrounding environment and exemplifies the design flexibility provided by 3D concrete printing. The house is incredibly cozy and energy-efficient, with an energy performance coefficient of 0.25, thanks to extra-thick insulation and a connection to the heating network.

The home’s design, which was inspired by the shape of a rock, was created by Dutch architects Houben & Van Mierlo.

It was built by printing layers of stacked concrete to create 24 distinct components, and it has outside walls that are curved and slanted.

These components were produced at a nearby printing facility and sent to the construction site where they were put together, secured to a foundation, and outfitted with a roof, windows, and doors.

According to Weber Benelux CEO Bas Huysmans, “We’ve taken important steps in this project toward the further development of 3D concrete printing in construction” with the printing of insulated and self-supporting wall parts that are curved in three dimensions.

The goal of Project Milestone, a partnership between the Eindhoven University of Technology and a number of building experts, is to learn from it in order to advance the manufacture of 3D-printed dwellings, And also reduce the cost of building houses by using 3D printing in Construction.

5. Urban Cabin

Architects : DUS Architects 

City : Amsterdam, Netherlands

Project Year : 2016

Photographers : Ossip van Duivenbode ©, Sophia van den Hoek ©, DUS Architects ©

In Amsterdam, the Dutch architectural firm DUS Architects 3D printed an eight-square-meter cabin with a bathroom and is now inviting guests to spend the night.

A former industrial area in Amsterdam is transformed by the 3D printed Urban Cabin into a cozy urban hideaway complete with a pocket park and outdoor bathtub. The structure is a study of small, environmentally friendly housing options for urban settings. It can be completely recycled and 3D printed again in the upcoming years because it is totally made of bio-plastic.

The architecture plays with the relationships between interior and outdoor areas to create luxury with a minimum footprint. It is entirely 3D printed from bio-based material in a dark tint, showcasing various façade ornaments, form-optimization methods, and resource-efficient insulating techniques.

The Urban Cabin is a component of DUS Architects’ 3D Print Living Lab. Another step has been taken toward creating sustainable, adaptable, and on-demand housing options for the world’s rapidly expanding cities utilizing internal 3D printing technology.

Overall, the house is 8 square meters by 25 square meters. Inside, there is a mini-porch and a room with a sofa that can be used as a twin bed. the urban cabin is open for short stays and comfortably houses a place of refuge along the canal.

The idea also represents a step forward in the development of tiny, temporary homes for constrained sites and disaster-prone areas. The material can be destroyed after use and then reprinted with a different pattern.

6. House 1.0

Architects : SAGA Space Architects

City : Holstebro, Denmark

The first 3D-printed concrete tiny house in Europe, House 1.0, was been unveiled by the Danish 3D printing business 3DCP Group.

The concrete apartment, which is situated in Holstebro, Denmark, was constructed in association with Saga Space Architects and the modular 3D construction printer business COBOD.

By fitting all necessary utilities into just 37 square meters, the building is intended to be as inexpensive as possible. The aim of the overall endeavor is to build better, faster, greener, and to reduce the amount of strenuous work in the construction process.

The house was created as a joint venture between the Danish firms 3DCP and Saga Space Architects. It is made up of triangular sections organized in a circular pattern and joined by an open-center core. There is a bathroom, an open kitchen, a living area, and a bedroom in the compact home. The bedroom was placed on a mezzanine level above the bathroom to conserve space. The roof has been raised in order to do this.

Using a large-format construction 3D printer from COBOD, the entire structure – including its roofs and foundations – is made of solid concrete at a reasonable cost. As a nod to Nordic construction customs, its interior is distinguished by warm wood.

3D printing in Construction is the next major advancement in the building sector, claims 3DCP. You may already be familiar with the conventional plastic 3D printers that you may use in your hobby room at home. The idea is the same; however, our printer is enormously larger.

explains the Danish corporation. “We use the printer to lay the concrete, layer by layer, minimizing waste and the overall material consumption while allowing a fusion of many processes and workflows, all of which contribute to the construction moving along quickly and efficiently.”

The Future of 3D Printing in Construction and Its Impact

The future of 3D printing in Construction holds great potential and is expected to have a significant impact on the industry. 3D printing in Construction, also known as additive manufacturing, involves the creation of three-dimensional objects by depositing material layer by layer. When applied to construction, this technology has the ability to revolutionize the way buildings and structures are designed and built. Key aspects of the future of 3D printing in Construction and its impact include faster and cost-effective construction, design freedom and customization, sustainability and reduced environmental impact, and eco-friendly and recyclable materials. 3D printing in Construction has the potential to improve structural performance, reduce transportation and carbon emissions, and integrate functional elements into the printed components.

It can be utilized both on-site and off-site in construction projects and can be particularly beneficial for construction projects in challenging environments. However, there are still challenges to overcome before 3D printing in Construction becomes mainstream in the construction industry, such as regulatory hurdles, scalability of the technology, material development, and the need for standardized processes. However, with ongoing research and development, it is expected that the future of 3D printing in Construction will continue to evolve and have a transformative impact on the industry.

Advantages of 3D Printing in Construction

3D printing in construction presents a myriad of advantages that are transforming traditional building methodologies. This revolutionary technology offers several key benefits, contributing to increased efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability in the construction industry.

One primary advantage is the unparalleled design flexibility afforded by 3D printing. This technology enables architects and engineers to create complex and intricate structures that were previously challenging or impossible with conventional construction methods. The layer-by-layer additive manufacturing process allows for the realization of unique geometries, resulting in innovative and aesthetically pleasing designs.

Moreover, 3D printing significantly reduces construction time. By eliminating the need for time-consuming formwork and enabling rapid layering of materials, projects that once took months can now be completed in a fraction of the time. This accelerated construction pace not only enhances project timelines but also minimizes labor costs, contributing to overall cost-effectiveness.

Cost efficiency extends beyond labor savings. 3D printing in construction often utilizes local and sustainable materials, reducing transportation costs and minimizing the environmental impact associated with conventional construction practices. Additionally, the precise nature of 3D printing minimizes material waste, optimizing resource utilization and further enhancing economic and environmental sustainability.

Another notable advantage is the potential for enhanced structural integrity. The layering process allows for meticulous control over material distribution, resulting in structures with increased strength and durability. This can lead to the creation of resilient buildings that withstand environmental challenges more effectively, contributing to the longevity of constructed assets.

The customization capabilities of 3D printing are also advantageous, particularly in the realm of affordable housing. Companies like ICON have demonstrated the ability to 3D print homes tailored to specific design requirements and local needs, addressing housing challenges with cost-effective solutions.

In summary, the advantages of 3D printing in construction encompass design flexibility, accelerated construction timelines, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, enhanced structural integrity, and customized solutions. As the technology continues to advance, these advantages position 3D printing as a transformative force in the construction industry, offering new possibilities for innovation and efficiency.

Source: Archdaily

Limitations , Challenges , and How to Solve it

While 3D printing in construction holds immense promise, it also faces several limitations and challenges that need to be addressed for widespread adoption and success in the industry.

• Current construction-grade 3D printers often have size limitations, hindering their applicability to large-scale projects like commercial buildings or infrastructure developments.
• Ongoing research aims to develop larger and more sophisticated 3D printing systems capable of handling substantial structures.
• Limited availability of construction-grade materials suitable for 3D printing remains a challenge.
• The industry needs to explore a broader range of materials that offer both structural integrity and durability.
• Stringent building codes and regulations were not initially designed with 3D printing in mind, leading to uncertainties and delays in obtaining approvals.
• Proactive engagement with regulatory bodies is essential to establish standardized guidelines and ensure compliance.
• The absence of standardized processes and best practices hampers the seamless integration of 3D printing in construction.
• Industry-wide collaboration is necessary to develop standardized procedures and guidelines for various 3D printing technologies.

Addressing the Challenges:

• Researchers, engineers, architects, and policymakers must collaborate to address scale limitations and develop scalable 3D printing systems.
• Joint efforts can explore new materials, ensuring they meet safety standards and are suitable for construction applications.
• Proactive engagement with regulatory bodies is crucial to establish clear guidelines and standards for 3D printing in construction.
• This collaboration can facilitate the creation of a regulatory framework that aligns with the unique aspects of 3D printing technology.
• Collaborative efforts between material scientists and construction engineers can lead to the development of a broader range of construction-grade materials for 3D printing.
• Research initiatives should focus on materials that not only meet structural requirements but also adhere to industry safety standards.
• Industry stakeholders, including researchers and practitioners, should work together to establish standards and best practices for 3D printing in construction.
• Standardization efforts will enhance interoperability, streamline processes, and contribute to the broader adoption of 3D printing technology.

As these initiatives progress, the limitations and challenges associated with 3D printing in construction will be gradually addressed, fostering a more robust and widely accepted framework for this transformative technology.

Environmental Impact

The environmental impact of 3D printing in construction is a critical aspect to consider as the industry explores innovative technologies. While 3D printing offers notable sustainability advantages, it also poses environmental challenges that require careful consideration.

Advantages:

• Traditional construction often results in significant material waste due to the need for precise measurements and cutting. 3D printing, being an additive manufacturing process, minimizes waste by only using the material necessary for the structure.
• 3D printing allows for on-site construction, reducing the need for transporting heavy construction materials over long distances. This localized production helps lower carbon emissions associated with transportation.
• The layer-by-layer construction process of 3D printing enables precise control over material distribution, optimizing resource usage. This efficiency contributes to sustainability by reducing the overall environmental footprint.
• Some 3D printing technologies are inherently energy-efficient compared to traditional construction methods. For instance, using robotic arms or gantry systems in 3D printing can require less energy than heavy machinery used in conventional construction.

Challenges:

• The environmental impact depends on the materials used for 3D printing. While there is a push towards sustainable and eco-friendly materials, some printing materials may still have environmental consequences. Ongoing research aims to develop more environmentally friendly alternatives.
• The energy consumption of 3D printers, especially large-scale construction printers, can be a concern. Optimizing the energy efficiency of these systems and exploring renewable energy sources for powering printers are areas of ongoing research.
• Understanding the end-of-life considerations for 3D-printed structures is crucial. The disposal and recycling of 3D-printed materials, especially those reinforced with fibers or other additives, need careful attention to prevent environmental harm.
• Ensuring that 3D-printed structures comply with environmental regulations is an evolving challenge. Regulatory frameworks may need to be adapted to address the unique aspects of 3D printing in construction and its environmental implications.

In conclusion, while 3D printing in construction presents significant opportunities to reduce environmental impact through reduced waste, localized production, and optimized material usage, addressing challenges related to material considerations, energy consumption, end-of-life considerations, and regulatory compliance is crucial for fostering a truly sustainable and eco-friendly construction ecosystem. Ongoing research and collaboration across disciplines are essential to maximizing the positive environmental impact of 3D printing in construction.

Source: Sculpteo

Training and Skill Development

The integration of 3D printing in construction demands a workforce equipped with specialized skills and knowledge to navigate this transformative technology. Training and skill development initiatives play a pivotal role in ensuring that professionals in the construction industry can harness the full potential of 3D printing.

Training Programs: Formal training programs are essential to introduce construction professionals, including architects, engineers, and construction workers, to the principles and practices of 3D printing. These programs should cover the fundamentals of 3D printing technology, including the operation of 3D printers, understanding construction-grade materials, and the intricacies of designing structures suitable for additive manufacturing.

Educational Partnerships: Collaborations between educational institutions and industry players are crucial for developing curricula that align with the evolving needs of the construction sector. Integrating 3D printing modules into existing construction and engineering programs helps students gain hands-on experience with this cutting-edge technology, preparing them for the demands of future construction projects.

Certification Programs: Establishing industry-recognized certification programs ensures that professionals can validate their expertise in 3D printing for construction. These certifications can cover various aspects, from operating specialized 3D printers to implementing 3D printing technologies in construction projects. Certification not only enhances individual skill sets but also provides a standardized benchmark for employers seeking qualified professionals.

Continuous Professional Development: Given the rapid evolution of 3D printing technology, continuous professional development is essential. Workshops, seminars, and online courses can help construction professionals stay abreast of the latest advancements, emerging materials, and best practices in the field. Industry associations and organizations can play a crucial role in organizing such events.

Hands-On Training: Hands-on training is indispensable for developing practical skills. Training centers equipped with 3D printers and construction-grade materials provide a simulated environment for professionals to familiarize themselves with the equipment, troubleshoot common issues, and refine their printing techniques.

Apprenticeships and On-Site Learning: On-site apprenticeships allow construction professionals to gain practical experience under the guidance of experienced practitioners. This experiential learning approach ensures that individuals can apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, addressing the specific challenges associated with 3D printing in construction.

In conclusion, a robust framework for training and skill development is essential for unlocking the potential of 3D printing in construction. By investing in educational initiatives, certification programs, and continuous learning opportunities, the construction industry can cultivate a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation and successfully implementing 3D printing technologies in construction projects.

Economic Implications

The adoption of 3D printing in construction carries significant economic implications, influencing various aspects of the construction industry and the broader economy. These implications encompass cost savings, job markets, construction costs, and economic growth.

• Cost Savings:
• 3D printing has the potential to substantially reduce construction costs. The efficiency of the additive manufacturing process minimizes material waste, and the reduced need for traditional construction methods, such as formwork, can lead to lower labor costs. Additionally, the ability to use local materials may further contribute to cost savings.
• Job Markets and Skill Demand:
• The introduction of 3D printing in construction creates a demand for professionals with specialized skills in operating and maintaining 3D printers, designing structures compatible with additive manufacturing, and overseeing 3D-printed construction projects. While traditional construction jobs may see some transformation, the overall impact on job markets is likely to be positive as new skill sets are in demand.
• Construction Costs and Affordability:
• The efficiency and cost-effectiveness of 3D printing can contribute to more affordable housing solutions. Companies like ICON and New Story have explored 3D printing for constructing affordable homes, addressing housing challenges and making homeownership more accessible to a broader segment of the population.
• Economic Growth and Innovation:
• The integration of 3D printing in construction fosters innovation, driving economic growth. Investments in research and development, technological advancements, and the creation of new businesses centered around 3D printing contribute to a dynamic and forward-looking construction industry.
• Market Competition:
• The adoption of 3D printing technologies introduces a new dimension of competition within the construction industry. Companies that embrace and invest in 3D printing may gain a competitive edge in terms of efficiency, project timelines, and cost-effectiveness, influencing market dynamics and business strategies.
• Infrastructure Development:
• The economic implications extend to infrastructure development, where 3D printing can streamline and expedite construction projects. This efficiency in infrastructure development, such as bridges and viaducts, contributes to economic progress by reducing project timelines and associated costs.

While the economic implications of 3D printing in construction hold great promise, careful considerations are essential to address challenges related to regulatory frameworks, material costs, and initial investments in technology. As the technology matures and becomes more widely adopted, its positive economic impact is expected to grow, influencing construction practices and economic outcomes globally.

Interactive Tools and Simulations

The integration of interactive tools and simulations in 3D printing for construction represents a significant advancement, offering enhanced visualization, planning, and decision-making capabilities. These tools leverage virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to transform the construction process, providing a range of benefits.

• Enhanced Visualization:
• Interactive tools and simulations enable stakeholders, including architects, engineers, and clients, to visualize construction projects in a highly immersive manner. Virtual models created through these tools offer a detailed and realistic representation of the final structure, aiding in better decision-making during the design and planning stages.
• Design Iterations and Collaboration:
• Virtual simulations allow for rapid design iterations and collaborative decision-making. Stakeholders can explore different design options, identify potential challenges, and make informed decisions in a virtual environment before the actual construction begins. This iterative process enhances collaboration and reduces the likelihood of costly modifications later in the construction phase.
• Project Planning and Coordination:
• Interactive tools assist in project planning and coordination by providing a detailed overview of the construction site and project components. This helps in optimizing construction workflows, scheduling tasks efficiently, and minimizing conflicts. Stakeholders can identify potential issues early on, leading to smoother project execution.
• Worker Training and Safety:
• VR and AR simulations serve as valuable tools for training construction workers in a safe and controlled environment. Workers can familiarize themselves with the operation of 3D printers, construction processes, and safety protocols. This immersive training contributes to improved on-site performance and enhanced safety.
• On-Site Construction Assistance:
• Augmented reality can be utilized on construction sites to provide real-time assistance to workers. AR overlays digital information onto the physical construction site, offering guidance on precise placement of components and ensuring accuracy during the 3D printing process.
• Client Engagement:
• Interactive simulations enhance client engagement by allowing them to experience the project in a virtual space. Clients can explore the design, understand project details, and provide valuable feedback before construction commences. This improves communication and ensures that the final product aligns with client expectations.
• Quality Control and Monitoring:
• These tools facilitate real-time monitoring and quality control during the construction process. Stakeholders can track progress, identify deviations from the design, and implement corrective measures promptly. This contributes to the overall efficiency and quality of the construction project.

In conclusion, the integration of interactive tools and simulations in 3D printing for construction transforms traditional practices by offering a dynamic and immersive approach to project visualization, collaboration, training, and safety. As technology continues to evolve, these tools are expected to play a pivotal role in optimizing construction processes and furthering the adoption of 3D printing in the industry.

The landscape of construction is undergoing a profound transformation with the integration of 3D printing. The advantages of this technology, including design flexibility, accelerated construction timelines, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, enhanced structural integrity, and customized solutions, position 3D printing as a revolutionary force in the industry. The ability to create complex structures with unprecedented efficiency and reduced environmental impact signifies a paradigm shift in construction methodologies.

The environmental impact of 3D printing in construction presents a dual narrative, with advantages such as reduced waste and optimized material usage juxtaposed against challenges related to material considerations, energy consumption, end-of-life considerations, and regulatory compliance. Ongoing research and collaboration are necessary to refine materials, improve energy efficiency, and establish clear guidelines for environmentally responsible 3D printing case studies.

The integration of interactive tools and simulations adds another layer of sophistication to 3D printing in construction, offering enhanced visualization, collaborative design iterations, improved project planning and coordination, advanced worker training and safety, on-site construction assistance, increased client engagement, and real-time quality control and monitoring. As these tools continue to evolve, they are expected to play a pivotal role in optimizing construction processes and accelerating the adoption of 3D printing technology.

Looking forward, the future of 3D printing in construction holds tremendous potential. Continued innovation, research, and collaborative efforts will pave the way for overcoming current limitations and challenges. The economic, environmental, and transformative benefits of 3D printing suggest a trajectory where this technology becomes an integral part of the construction industry, reshaping how we conceive, design, and build structures for a more sustainable and efficient future.

Design Buildings | Autodesk

For the projects:

Tecla House: dezeen | archdaily | designboom

Zero House: dezeen | designboom

Two Story House: dezeen | archdaily | designboom

House 1.0: designboom

Milestone Project: dezeen | designboom

For the main picture: freepik

Hadi PourMohammadi

Content creator of Neuroject

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3D Printed Homes: Is this the Future of Residential Construction?

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What is a 3D printed House? What are the pros & cons of 3D printing homes? Ecohome takes a detailed look at the printed home idea using new technologies and gives its verdict on this innovative construction technique that is very popular in the media...

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We've seen more and more headlines calling 3D Printed homes, "the way of the future," with their "construction in less than 24 hours!"  Billed as the ideal solution to counter the global housing crisis and more resistant than traditional homes, the answer to the climate emergency according to many media reports is  3D printed homes.

While on the face of it they offer solutions to many of the problems with labour shortages, the cost and the lead time for the average traditional home construction, is all this hype or the truth? And, what is the real environmental impact of 3D printed homes?

What is a 3D printed home and how is it built?

The building is first designed digitally in a BIM or Building Information Modelling software program. A machine then prints structures in an automated way on or off site: layer by layer, a paste (mortar, concrete, plastic, mud) is pushed through a nozzle or a robotic arm, according to the parameters of the digital drawing, to erect the main structure. It may seem pedantic, but we're probably more accurate to call 3D homes extruded!

Printing, in general, refers to the process of creating text, images, or patterns on a surface, usually paper, by applying ink or other materials. This can be done using various methods, such as inkjet, laser, or screen printing. Printing typically involves a two-dimensional (2D) output.

Extruding, on the other hand, is a manufacturing process in which a material, often in the form of a viscous liquid or a malleable solid, is pushed or drawn through a die or a nozzle to create a continuous, uniform shape or cross-section. Extrusion is commonly used in the production of plastic, rubber, or metal products, such as pipes, profiles, and wires. Extrusion typically involves a three-dimensional (3D) output.

In the context of 3D printing, the term "extruding" is often used to describe the process of depositing material layer by layer to create a three-dimensional object. In this case, "extruding" refers specifically to the method of pushing the printing material (usually a thermoplastic filament) through a heated nozzle, where it melts and is deposited onto a build platform to create the desired 3D shape.

So, while at first glance the idea of 3D printing homes seems interesting, would it really allow us to choose a predefined model online and agree on a date to "print" our house on any site, quickly and at as low a cost as we've read? Does the 3D home printing technology really offer these benefits? We dug deeper into the subject.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of 3D printed houses?

Construction time for 3d printed houses not much faster in reality.

While there are references to 24-hour construction times in articles and advertisements touting 3D printed homes , no project has been able to demonstrate such a record. The Fibonacci House in British Columbia, for example, was built off-site in 11 days.

The first 3D house, built by the international organization Habitat for Humanity in Virginia, while it took only 28 hours to print the concrete walls, the construction site to complete the house took as long as a traditional house.

If the figures are far from reality, it is because the information conveyed omits the fact that these times concern only the main house walls! It never takes into account the foundations, roofs, windows, doors, interior and exterior finishes, plumbing, etc. Elements that constitute nearly 80% of the construction of a house.

For example, the house built in Windsor-Essex by Habitat for Humanity (Hh) was not built in 3-4 days, as mentioned by Chris Marin, lead 3D home printer operator (ICI Windsor, 2022). Only the walls were erected in that time frame.

Ian Sabourin Somers, a technical advisor with Ecohome, has a problem with the quoted speed of production of 3D houses : "The only apparent advantage is the speed of production, to meet the housing needs. But perhaps that's debatable, considering prefabricated homes and modular panels".

Lloyd Alter agrees: "A computerized robotic prefabricated wall building machine can produce all the walls of a house in an hour, complete with insulation, electrical wiring and windows, which can be shipped as easily as a bag of cement to a site and assembled in an hour"

Verdict: While 3D printing saves production time on framing (if compared to conventional construction, not factory prefabricated), it falls far short of the time frames mentioned by the media. Especially considering that in a conventional construction, the walls are the fastest part to erect and represent only a fraction of the cost of the finished, useful structure (3D printing only takes care of 20-25% of an entire building, while conventional methods are responsible for the remaining 75-80% of construction).

Prices of 3D printed houses: no cheaper than traditional homes

In terms of costs, several articles consulted speak of a 50% cost saving for the "house" . It would seem that the savings are only in the wall structure, since only the walls are printed (and that it would be more like 10-20%, due to the cost of labor, which is less on a printed structure).

The expectations are therefore rather unrealistic in terms of costs, which seem to be impossible to determine at this time. According to Ian Arthur, president of the Nidus 3D company responsible for the pilot project: "It is too early to provide figures on the total cost of the (Hh's Windosr-Essex) initial project. This is a research and testing project. It's the first time it's been thought of in Canada," he explained in an interview with ICI Windsor (2022).

"And while the costs of wood and concrete frames are currently equivalent, concrete and steel are becoming increasingly expensive as the materials they are made of become more scarce. Internationally, the cost of wood is more stable (less fluctuation) . The extraction and transportation of these materials increase the volume of greenhouse gases (GHG) for a demand that will exceed the capacity of available resources before the end of the century," says Guy St-Jacques, President of the Groupe de Neuve Ltée.

According to the Graham Construction Material and Commodity Review, published in May 2021, the cost of concrete is expected to rise with sand shortages and the residential and commercial construction boom.

Verdict: 3D homes are still in the experimental phase. They don't seem to offer any real cost savings at this time. We will have to wait a few years to obtain more conclusive data.

3D Printed homes, a solution to the housing shortage?

For many media outlets, one reason for 3D printed houses is to help people struggling to find housing, since they are supposedly cheaper and faster to build (which is not necessarily the case, as we just saw). That said, " the housing problem has never been technological, it's social and economic, whether you're in San Francisco or the Salvator , " says Lloyd Alter.

He gives the example of the ICON homes being built in the Salvator, for and by the local community: "They're dropping the most sophisticated 3D printing machines in the world into the middle of this community and printing homes like no one has ever seen, homes that don't need masons, plasterers, or labor, that don't create a lot of local jobs or teach a lot of skills. What a western perspective! They've reduced the cost of the house a little bit, but the money isn't going into the pockets of local workers anymore, it's going to buy bags of sludge to feed the big expensive printer."

Benjamin Zizi, technical advisor at Ecohome, agrees: "All the examples mentioned of 3D printed constructions are for houses. The housing shortage as well as urban sprawl are problems whose solutions lie much more in multi-unit building projects, in areas connected to urban networks (transportation, shops, workplaces, leisure, etc.)."

"3D technologies do not seem to be adapted to the needs of sustainable homes."  

Says Benjamin Zizi, technical advisor at Ecohome

Verdict: We need low-carbon, multi-family housing. While it goes without saying that everyone deserves access to adequate housing, the problem does not seem to require a technical response, but an ideological and urban planning one.

Concrete 3D Printed homes: Responding to Labour Shortages and Unique Designs

The construction industry in Canada is currently facing a shortage of skilled labour. Since 3D printing requires fewer people for framing, it offers a certain advantage here. According to Charles Overy, principal at LGM 3D "3D printing may have the potential to become mainstream in the U.S. construction industry within 10 to 20 years." He believes that "chronic labor shortages in the construction industry due to government policies could force builders to invest in (3D printing) technology more quickly."

3D printing also makes it possible to build uniquely designed homes, complex walls and curved shapes for the same price as a straight wall. An answer to the construction labor shortage and unique designs seem to be the only advantages to building a 3D home at the moment.

What are the environmental benefits of a house built with a 3D printer?

Are the materials for 3d printing houses more sustainable maybe not.

We have identified some very interesting examples of constructions where local mud or bamboo composite paste (SHoP Architects Company, NY) was used. The TECLA project shows that a beautiful, healthy and sustainable house can be built by machine, using local bio-based raw material. The team behind the project even built an assembly "kit" for the robotic infrastructure, deliverable anywhere in the world in a container, that allows a similar house to be built. We applaud this initiative, but doubt it will be adopted in North America!

For the time being, 3D constructions are mainly made of mortar-concrete or plastic, materials that have a heavy environmental impact. "In terms of carbon impact, wood is still the cheapest material and the best way to build. Period. Apart from a few rare examples, 3D uses plastic, cement and concrete. Even if concrete is 'green' or a lower carbon mix , in my opinion nothing beats having a team of workers on site working with wood, especially if it's locally produced," says Emmanuel Cosgrove, director of Écohabitation and Ecohome.

"We can't see, in the near future, 3D machines printing homes using biosourced materials breaking into the North American market." Emmanuel Cosgrove

Of course, plastic can also be recycled and used in blends. But there are certainly logistical issues with this recycling alternative, as well as potential health issues related to living in a home made from recycled plastic. According to Overy, "It's not easy to source locally and certify recycled waste streams, nor is there a huge economic incentive to do so. Therefore, it is not easy from a regulatory (or technical) standpoint to melt milk bottles and extrude a house or even a door frame. It's hard to imagine a recycling stream that is as efficient as aluminum in the United States."

In a 2018 CBC News article, mention of a house built by a robotic 3D printer in western France featured a breakthrough in green construction, as the robotic printer used a special polymer material for the two outer layers of the building's walls, combined with the inner concrete layer. Seriously, how is this green? Many sprayed (or printed) foams can have potential health impacts - which is why we tend to stay clear of them.

Verdict: While there are rare exceptions in which 3D houses use local bio-based materials, most projects use concrete, cement and plastic. In our considered opinion, conventional, or prefabricated, wood construction with dense packed cellulose insulation is still the best choice for here, unless you're located in an area of frequent and severe weather where it might be prudent to go for resilience first.

What are the disadvantages of houses built with 3D concrete printing?

Construction waste of 3d houses.

On average, the construction of a new 2,000-square-foot house generates more than 2,000 kilograms of construction waste , the vast majority of which ends up in landfills. One important contribution that 3D printing can make in terms of sustainable construction is the reduction of construction waste, related to framing.

After designing a house on a computer, a 3D printer knows the exact amount of materials needed for its structure. But this can also be achieved by prefabricating wooden frames in a factory. Benjamin Zizi also mentions the fact that: "It is not certain that 3D houses will have a better deconstructability index at the end of their life, or during renovations, because of their 'monobloc' construction. It will not be possible to salvage the structural materials since they are made of concrete".

Durability of 3D printed houses

While 3D printed houses are durable and resistant to climatic conditions, they have not yet been shown to perform better than conventional houses made of wood and bio-based materials.

Environmental cost and difficulty of 3D house insulation

For Emmanuel Cosgrove, this is a major point for the cost and environmental side: "In our codes and cold climate zones, we need insulation laid on the outside, fastening and cavity systems for the insulation such as wood or steel framing, exterior cladding, and maybe even interior framing to fasten the gypsum as a fire barrier."

"The 3D printed house is like the container house where you end up building not one wood frame, but two! Completely ridiculous in every way. This is the epitomy of a false good ideas". Emmanuel Cosgrove

Using a larsen truss system, for example, is a quick and effective way to build a very efficient structore from biosourced materials .

In addition to the items noted in the last few paragraphs, note :

• Expensive initial investments : the price of a 3D printer is around $49,000 for small models, over $125,000 for large ones (CBC News 2021).
• A lack of certification: construction is governed by laws. Only a handful of building permits have been issued in recent years for 3D houses, in special experimental cases, and in selected areas. (aniwaa, 2022).
• Potential loss of local jobs: 3D printing requires little labor for framing. A potential social problem, especially in less affluent areas with high unemployment.

Lack of transparent communication among 3D printed home builders

A document published by COBOD, a Danish company that is a global leader in 3D printing solutions for the construction industry, warns consumers by taking stock of what 3D construction is really like today. For example, it mentions the company Winsun, which claims to have built 10 3D buildings in 10 days. In fact, they assembled 10 buildings in 10 days, from 3D printed components produced in a factory long before.

Similarly, the oft-mentioned Office of the Future in Dubai was not 3D printed in Dubai, but rather made from prefabricated 3D printed elements in Suzhou, China. The interesting architectural details were not 3D printed, but handcrafted by traditional construction workers in Dubai (COBOD).

The same goes for ICON, which mentions printing a small building in Austin in 24 hours when instead the printing was done over several days. "ICON claimed that its technology "could" 3D print the building in 24 hours, but provided no documentation to prove it" (COBOD).

So we call for caution when it comes to believing everything you might find online about 3D printed homes being "the" solution to the challenges facing the North American construction industry.

3D buildings in space

NASA has designed, with the company ICON, a 170 m2 3D printed habitat in order to simulate a mission to the Moon (Project Olympus), where buildings could be constructed using resources found on the Moon. In this perspective, 3D printing of houses makes sense. For the moment, therefore, unless we use local bio-sourced elements as was done for the Tecla project, the 3D printing of buildings should be limited to these extra-planetary projects...

• 3D printing could help build homes with unique designs more cheaply, advocates say, CBC News, 2021
• The Truth – Facts about the True State of the Art of 3D Construction Printing, COBOD
• Why 3D Printed Houses Are a Solution Looking for a Problem, Treehugger, 2018
• The Truth About 3D Printed Homes, Undecided with Matt

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• Construction
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Comments (1)

Very cool. Thanks for the great info. Now we need them to print these amazing houses that AI images are creating!

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We have Prefab modular kit homes for Washington state and all across the US, you can see the models and get pricing here -

LEED and Passive House ready prefab Eco Home kit houses for Washington DC 

You will see a tab to ‘get a quote’ on that page, if you enter your information we can get pricing for you. It is difficult to really give you even a ball bark price, but a prefab home can *and should* be a better quality home for about the same price as a site-built house that is built to meet the very low performance standards of building code, since building in a factory is more efficient in both material savings and labor. 

Our current manufacturing facilities are in Canada, so the best idea of pricing I can give you at the moment is maybe $200 to $300 per square foot CAD, but of course labor and material costs vary by region. It really depends on design, materials, performance etc. Building materials have seen a massive increase in price lately, that hasn’t helped matters either for determining cost. 

This page here about the looming real estate crisis due to mandatory energy modelling for homes before selling (which is coming in the near future) has solid arguments for building better homes now, I think that would be of significant value to that student and their thesis.    

We have a number of prefab kit houses for delivery across Canada and the US, you can see models here –

LEED and Passive House Ready prefab modular kit houses for the US and Canada.  

We may not currently have any hurricane proof prefab kit houses, but if you join Ecohome as a member and fill out a request for kit house quote at the bottom of this page , we will have you in our system and be able to contact you when we have models ready to go. As the economy is beginning to open up now and the housing market is going crazy, we expect to have more manufacturing capabilities online shortly to meet demand. When are you hoping to have one delivered, is that for this summer?   

We really quite like prefab / pre built houses and firmly believe that if you were to fast forward 20 years into the future that all new homes will be made with pre built walls and more even more likely is that  prefabricated kit homes will be built, delivered and installed, faster and cheaper than the houses we currently build. We do have this page that walks you through all the options you just mentioned - 

How to choose a wall system for home construction

Our prediction - and you heard it here first :)....the idea of raw materials such as 2x4s and insulation being delivered to a building site to sit in the rain will soon be considered as ridiculous as having car parts delivered to your house and assembling a Toyota or VW in your laneway. And while we would prefer that a home isn't built on a basement, we realise that in areas where its essential to squeeze every sq ft onto a lot like in Ontario it may be a necessity and in which case a basement of ICF construction is a great choice for building speed and operating efficiency. To discover more about  the definitive history of ICF Construction and ICF Blocks, take a look here . .

When you talk about prefab wall assemblies too, there are a couple of services that could fall under that general umbrella – At the base of that would be SIPS (structural insulated panels) usually made of rigid EPS (expanded polystyrene) panels . There are also companies that will take your building plans and create walls to match that can be delivered and assembled, that can be a great option as it is often cheaper as there is less material waste. And, you’re not leaving your wood frame exposed out in the rain for weeks or months to get saturated and warped. 

The next level up from that are companies that offer prefab ‘turn key’ homes to choose from, and the best of those will let you make modifications to meet your specific needs. We like a lot of those options, but our favorite are prefab kit houses for sure, especially those that meet LEED or  Passive house performance levels .  As for the one that you mentioned, nothing stands out as being particularly fantastic about it, in fact the diagram on the main page seems a little redundant, what’s with the OSB sheathing as well as ZIP structural sheathing ? Cheaper than two layers of sheathing would be swapping one out for an exterior peel and stick WRB membrane . 

And yes, there are some pre built homes that are much better in our opinion, that are manufactured in Ontario and Quebec. We can help you choose, so may I ask where you’re building? And what are your top priorities? (meaning – affordable, Eco friendly, LEED or Passive House ready kit homes , etc?)  Let us know and we will set you up with something better and closer.   

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3D Printed Homes Are All The Hype, But What Is Their Real Impact?

Additive manufacturing (AM) has been getting a lot of attention over the years, with its use in construction a recurring theme. Generally this brings to mind massive 3D printers that are carted to construction sites and assemble entire homes on the spot. That’s the perspective with which a recent ZDNet article by [Rajiv Rao] opens, before asking whether AM in construction is actually solving any problems. As [Rajiv] notes, the main use of such on-site AM construction is for exclusive, expensive designs, such as ICON’s House Zero which leans into the extruded concrete printing method.

Their more reasonable Wolf Ranch residential homes in Texas also use ICON’s Vulcan II printer to print walls out of concrete, with a roof, electrical wiring, plumbing, etc. installed afterwards. Prices for these Wolf Ranch 3 to 4 bedroom houses range from about $450,000 to $600,000, and ICON has been contracted by NASA to work a way to 3D print structures on the Moon out of regolith.

Naturally, none of these prices are even remotely in the range of the first-home buyers, or the many economically disadvantaged who make up a sizable part of the population in the US and many other nations in the Americas, Africa, etc. To make AM in construction economically viable, it would seem that going more flatpack and on-site assembly is the way to go, using the age-old pre-fabrication (prefab) method of constructions.

This is the concept behind the University of Maine’s BioHome3D , which mainly uses PLA, wood fiber and similar materials to create modules that contain insulation in the form of wood fiber and cellulose. These modules are 3D printed in a factory, after which they’re carted off to the construction site for assembly, pretty much like any traditional prefab home, just with the AM step and use of PLA rather than traditional methods.

Prefab is a great way to speed up construction and already commonly used in the industry, as modules can have windows, doors, insulation, electrical wiring, plumbing, etc. all installed in the factory, with on-site work limited to just final assembly and connecting the loose bits. The main question thus seems to be whether AM in prefab provides a significant benefit, such as in less material wasted by working from (discarded) wood pulp and kin.

While in the article [Rajiv] keeps gravitating towards the need to use less concrete (because of the climate) and make homes more affordable through 3D printing, AM is not necessarily the panacea some make it out to be, due to the fact that houses are complex structures that have to do much more than provide a floor, walls and a roof. If adding a floor (or two) on top of the ground floor, additional requirements come into play, before even considering aspects like repairability which is rarely considered in the context of AM construction.

52 thoughts on “ 3D Printed Homes Are All The Hype, But What Is Their Real Impact? ”

What is the actual problem that they are trying to solve with 3D printed houses?

Concrete slabs aren’t that expensive .. and only small part of budget what goes building a house.

It’s just tech fetishism

It’s tech fetishism and concrete companies trying to sell more concrete.

Homes in the UK are already built by AM, brick by brick.

AM? The malevolent AI in I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream?

Rising lumber costs Cutting, framing, hanging drywall, taping, plastering, sanding. Thats a lot of labor cost, a significant percentage of what goes into building a house. I dont think extruded concrete is the answer though. Automated minecraft houses using mortarless Cement Stabilized Compressed Earth Blocks is where I think its at. https://youtu.be/-ltWsDYjYeo?si=42h_tek7kOWfIJSb&t=132

HadrianX is using a different block type than the lego like MyIB blocks I prefer but Id much rather live in their constructions than the cement extrusions so popularly shown when talking 3d printed houses. https://youtu.be/xDDbc-Kwn_U?si=KzoriJvgfgcZApAp

doesn’t help when a government wont let you log in a place where saplings pop up like dandelions. because of the environment. lets ignore the fact that wood structures are a good way to sequester carbon.

Time is a big bad wolf. The sprawling suburbs of america were designed to crumble under its breath. We do not build for longevity, We build for the constant and continued profit of Fat Cat developers and the construction industry.

The second hand housing industry in america has become an investors paradise of flippers buying up worn down modest homes of deteriorating condition, sinking tens of thousands into rebuilding them, and selling them for hundreds of thousands more than they were originally worth. Wash rinse repeat.

Traditional stick-built homes have a lifespan of around 50-60 years. Brick structures are built to last 100 years or more depending on their maintenance. Research undertaken by Adrian Bown from Leeds Metropolitan University found that brick structures can have a lifespan of 500 years or more. Cement stabilized compressed earth blocks remove bricks main maintenance requirement, repointing, or the removal and replacement of degrading mortar.

I lived in Japan for a while, it was crazy every single building was solid concrete or brick. No wood structures.

I actually stayed in a place that was built before WWII

“Time is a big bad wolf.”

You have no idea how accurate this saying is, or do you? 😮 When I hear of different construction types, I always have to think of the story of the three little pigs and the big bad wolf. There was a straw house (tent), a wooden house and a brick house. And all houses but the brick house had been blown away. Literaly.

You have no idea how accurate this saying is, or do you? Very aware. I live in a 4 story 184 year old brick building in New Orleans that has withstood 74 hurricanes in its life. Time may huff and puff but its still standing and thanks to just receiving its third repointing, likely will be for generations to come.

I couldnt edit, Thanks HAD. My sister just informed me that according to the condo associations notice that the repointing that was done earlier this summer was NOT the third, it was only the second.

If the structure price is a small portion and doesn’t matter, then why americans building and living in cardboard houses?

“I dont think extruded concrete is the answer though.”

Me neither, I think that concrete as such is not the final solution. It’s just that western world hasn’t cone up with something better yet. Steel-concrete has a flaw in its structure, and it degenerates over time until it collapses with little to no warning. Especially if temperature changes occur, like by the different seasons each year. By comparion, stone or brick houses can last for generations. They may seem expensive, but that’s relative considering their longevity. Some of these buildings last longer than their country. The structure is being stabilized by the outer walls, also, which is better than the concept of steel/concrete buildings that use an single inner structure for this. The fact that traditional buildings can carry their own weight makes them more robust. Damages on the outer walls can be spotted and be repaired more easily. An inner core can’t really be fixed, because it’s always being under pressure. I’m merely speaking as layman here, of course.

Never seen a structure that’s not carrying its own weight. Maybe because the resistance of materials usually show that a material supports more compressive forces than traction forces.

A concrete + steel rod can live for centuries, but you have to pay for that, by using stainless steel rod and not plain oxidizing steel. There are bridges over the sea with those that costed 30% more expensive to build but unlike the other that collapsed, are still perfectly fine (so in the end, they saved 70% of the cost of rebuilding a new one).

The lack of affordable housing doesn’t need techbro solutions, the answer is obvious. Change zoning laws in areas experiencing shortages to allow for more multifamily and dense new housing construction!

Or you know don’t import 10% of the population every four years

Or live together as a family instead of leaving home as soon as you turn 18, having kids and then splitting up and using twice as many houses, and dumping your parents in care.

the rest of the world

Look up what a reverse mortgage is sometime. Might also be a good idea to prevent hedge funds from going around systematically buying up all properties on the market as well.

“The American dream is bad actually, live with your parents forever and then of course we’ll make fun of you for living in your mom’s basement” Okay fine I won’t vote for people who talk like this and just flat out tell me that my living standards should continue to decline, why should I go against my own interests? YIMBYs GFY

The US is one of the very few countries in the world where you don’t have to be a citizen to buy property…..

Think how much availability that would free up without people from China buying houses/apartments in NY they never set foot in solely as a means to move money away from the CCP reach. (Not to mention Russia and everyone else.)

@Sword https://www.marketplace.org/2024/02/09/foreign-investors-are-cooling-on-u-s-commercial-real-estate/

the percentage of homes in the U.S. owned by non-Americans is usually pretty small, between 2% and 3%. The percentage of commercial real estate owned by foreign investors is a lot higher, or at least it has been. “Historically, the average for commercial real estate is around 10 or 11%, and last year it was 6%,” said Riaz Cassum, global head of international capital for real estate services company JLL.

In fiscal year (FY) 2020, ~628,300 immigrants became lawful permanent residents. With a population of 329.5 million In fiscal year (FY) 2021, ~809,000 immigrants became lawful permanent residents. With a population of 332 million million In fiscal year (FY) 2022, ~969,380 immigrants became lawful permanent residents. With a population of 333.3 million In fiscal year (FY) 2023, ~878,500 immigrants became lawful permanent residents. With a population of 343.47 million

Might want to double check your beliefs they are off by an order of magnitude.

And before you argue thats only Legally naturalized citizens, various groups estimate that the TOTAL population of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. ranges from only 10.9 million to 16.8 million.

As of 2022, the foreign-born population consisting of anyone living in the United States who was not a U.S. citizen at birth, including naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (immigrants), temporary migrants such as foreign students, humanitarian migrants such as refugees and asylees, and unauthorized migrants TOTALLED 45.3 million or 13.7% of the nation’s population,

Thats ALL pretty far from your claim of 10% every 4 years.

How many new houses were built in that time that these people could afford?

Housing costs are what the market can bear and the market depends upon whether one wants to live in a particular location, what kind of employment one can obtain, and the cost of living in an area which is also related to those factors. Via a channel on YouTube that visits large to very small towns in our (huge) great plains and similar areas, I’ve seen beautiful homes that cost one third of what they’d cost where I live.

I think using additive manufacturing at the factory to make pre-fab modules makes more sense than trying to use it at the construction site. With the latter, you essentially have to move the entire factory to the site. This might make sense if you’re building many buildings, but probably not for building a single one. Now, whether using additive manufacturing vs. other methods at the factory is better is a more difficult question. If the blueprints call for rectangles, then perhaps AM doesn’t have much advantage. However, if you want Gehry-like structures, probably AM can shine.

This only makes any sense if (as in the lunar example) the materials are sourced locally.

As for cost – woah, a 3-4 bed home is too expensive for a first time buyer? Wow, what a surprise. Those are family homes. And those costs in the article are less than many conventional 3-4 bed homes in the UK – and definitely less than a new build. (Though I suspect if they were built here they’d cost more). The cost of housing is mostly based on the land, not the house cost. It’s a supply and demand issue.

Asides from the funky shapes and novelty I don’t see a point. It’s not usually the walls of a house that makeup the biggest part of the price, it’s the equipment: electrical, plumbing, finishing, windows etc. This doesn’t really solve a problem, but introduces the need for a pretty high precision foundation to print on (like a level print bed).

Bingo. That’s why it costs so much more to redo a kitchen or a bathroom compared to a bedroom – way more infrastructure involved.

Forst layer, as in first brick layed by?

The assumption is labour costs are lowered having a 3D concrete robot do the fabrication. (cue magical unicorn). The reality is finishing work and basics for electrical and plumbing, like Thomas says- are the major expense.

They need to create a Lego block standard for house construction. Only then would there be innovation and competition giving cost improvements. But new house construction is a mega industry, billion$ so nobody wants that at the builder-level.

Using seacans is out there but not popular because, well, it’s a steel box.

it doesn’t matter how you build your house if people still cant afford them.

What about hire-purchase? You pay a rent for 30 years or so and afterwards it’s your property or the property of your family. You children and grand children might still consider living in that house after you, err, have moved.

I think you mispronounced ‘mortgage’

No, that’s the filthy commie socialist model.

The government builds the housing, you rent it. If you rent it for 30 years you get to keep it.

“Civilised” countries of course stopped doing this years ago, if indeed they ever started.

It does matter figuring out why building a house has such high costs nowadays.

Of course it’s all the fat from the home builders and tradesmen. It makes up a big part of the economy for many ountries. I have to laugh, they try to upsell you on flooring, appliances etc. – even electrical outlets “You want Decora? Oh that costs extra” and it’s cheaper to go to Home Depot and buy the fancy light fixtures, switches and outlets yourself. A total ripoff from the home builder. They’ll add +30% markup on top of the contractor’s +30% markup. This is an entire construction ecosystem. Home Depot stock is a steady ramp up to the moon.

It would be basic math to calculate the savings with 3D printing a house. It sounds promising but has a lot of resistance to it.

I was quoted £3000 including 2 weeks labour to have fitted wardrobes in my bedroom. Cost me £500 from ikea and took me 4 days. Their labour costs vs what they pay labourers is eyewatering but hey, got to keep the company director’s boat shiny!

I am not against IKEA at all, but fitted wardrobes vs not-exactly-fitting IKEA stuff is the game changer. Unless the builders and furniture retailers agree on some size standards the on-demand built things could be expansive.

And you got Ikea quality rather than actual custom built-ins. There is a huge difference. Actual wood vs particle board for starters.

for 3q it was also ikea ;) do not dream :D

Hm. This company is from Houston, Texas? If so it might be worth a try, actually, considering how the average house in the US is said to be built. Because, it might be a better alternative to these “dog house” constructions they normally use (if that information is true; are crossbeams a thing yes/no?). A 3D printed house might be not on par to a traditional brick/wood house construction from Germany here, but still better than building a contraption using huge tooth bricks, plasterboards and a stapler. Stability wise, I mean. PS: Please excuse my ignorance here, it’s hard to separate facts from stereotypes here.

I wonder if all these materials used will end up like the albatrosses known as wind turbine blades.

If we’re looking for sustainable affordable housing, may I propose the humble mud hut? It can be built from local materials, releases no CO2 into the atmosphere (unless the thatched roof burns down), and requires few enough skills to maintain that the average homeowner could (probably) manage it. Think about it: after millions of years of evolution, the human species can finally advance to the level of being able to construct our own shelter. The birds, beavers, and ants will be so proud of us.

If we’re looking for sustainable affordable housing, may I propose the humble mud hut? It can be built from local materials,

And again I propose mortarless Compressed Earth Blocks. Stabilizing with 5-10% cement will add durability and weather resistance in rainy climates. https://youtube.com/shorts/nU68HSXII_g?si=mYDvzgthRMYv3Ujp

You made a serious reply to a joke post, but I’ll bite. Cement-stabilized dirt is just really weak concrete. I’ve made it, gotten excited about it, etc., but then I left it outside for a year and now it’s pockmarked from weathering and covered in moss. Seeing that, I wouldn’t like to build my house from it. Furthermore, with the energy required to make 10% of the weight of the building from cement, you could instead fire the remaining 90% of the dirt into proper bricks (at a much lower temperature than a cement kiln) and just use those with lime mortar (also fired at relatively low temperatures) as people have already been doing for millennia. If you’re still really excited about stacking giant legos, you can even make the bricks self-aligning. The mortar is still important though, it stops the bugs from getting in.

There are mud houses that are over 100 years old; it’s no problem; just put a roof on top of it. I helped a friend renovate one a few years back. If no water will go to dry mud bricks then it will be fine. It is that easy …. no need to reinvent the wheel

Imagine if a young Henry Ford went to investors and said he wanted to construct a factory at a person’s home, then build a car for them in that factory, then disassemble that factory and bring it to another person’s home and do it again.

Investors would’ve laughed him out the door.

As they should with dreams of doing the same with homes, when they could be built on an assembly line and shipped around the country for a fraction of the cost.

Modular homes, on average, cost anywhere from $90-$120 per square foot. Site built homes, on average, cost about $150-$250 per square foot. So you arent wrong about there being a savings. However they arent really “shipped around the country”, For the most part, the markets that modular home manufacturers serve are limited in their proximity to the supplier’s factory. Shipping modules over distances longer than a couple of hundred miles runs the risk of damaging the product, and can be prohibitively expensive.

House Zero at 1700 Riverview St. Austin, TX: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7YFMLUjp6yHd7UC38 with more details on street view.

This is a solution looking for a problem – why not design them with AI and sell them on the blockchain for the ultimate TechBro pointlessness.

Pre-fabricated or factory built houses are a much more practical solution, those who have watched a bit of Grand Designs will have seen multiple versions go up over the years and it’s always fast – usually the groundworks are prepared in advance (which you have to do for any house) and then a couple of trucks turn up & the parts are craned off & into place in a matter of hours, it’s not unusual for a 2-storey house to go up in a couple of days.

A lot of stuff can be pre-installed at the factory (faster & easier than on a building site) and then just hooked up in-situ and you’ve got less (or certainly no more) fettling & finishing to do than any other construction method.

You have a load of stuff that can be done by machine in a factory – sections pre-cut, aligned on jigs, etc. – as well as the rest of it being done more easily by folks who aren’t working outdoors in the weather or up ladders etc.

dopóki nie będziemy drukowac ścian razem z instalacjami, z kanalizacją, prądem, gazem, internetem , wywietrznikami i mnóstwem rzeczy które sa potrzebne dopóty nic z tego nie będzie. drukowanie może zakładac elementy prefabrykowane, ale musi dawać nowa jakość. łatwiejsze budowanie piwnic (np. kilka kondygnacji z wyjazdami) łatwiejszą integrację i wymianę dachu, łatwiejsze instalowanie mediów. Bez tego to jest po prostu bzdurka bez żadnego znaczenia.

I want to see a 6 axis pick&place brick-laying machine. Something that can build stuff that is too intricate for humans to do quickly. Perhaps something that could insert rebar and electrical or plumbing fixtures and windows as appropriate? Something that actually makes a house, instead of just a shell. Something that makes something that justifies the technology, instead of just existing to put humans out of work…

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The first 3D printed House with earth | Gaia

The 3d printed house gaia.

On the occasion of the “Viaggio a Shamballa” event and the “A call to save the world” conference,  WASP presents  Gaia , a case study of 3D printed house using the new Crane WASP   technology with natural materials from the surrounding area. The Italian company’s commitment, since its origins in 2012, has been constantly aimed to the development of equipment for additive manufacturing on an architectural scale and the inauguration of Gaia represents an important milestone, also in light of all the researches conducted in the 3d printing field, in the design and materials study, researches that, in 2015, have allowed the realization of the 12 meters BigDelta WASP 12MT .

Gaia, a new eco-sustainable house model designed and built using the 3D printer called Crane WASP.

A new eco-sustainable house model

Gaia, whose name is due to the use of raw soil as the main binder of the constituent mixture, can be considered a new eco-sustainable architectural model with particular attention to the use of  natural waste materials , coming from the rice production chain and oriented to the construction of particularly efficient masonry from a bioclimatic and healthy point of view. This research was also possible thanks to the collaboration with RiceHouse.

“The Potter Wasp Is Our Development Model, A Perfect Approach To Building Low Cost Houses With Zero Kilometer Natural Material”

Massimo Moretti

Natural materials and bioclimatic aspects

Gaia is a highly performing module both in terms of energy and indoor health, with an almost zero environmental impact . Printed in a few weeks thanks to its masonry, it does not need heating or an air conditioning system, as it maintains a mild and comfortable temperature inside both in winter and in summer.

For the realization of Gaia, RiceHouse supplied the vegetable fibers through which WASP has developed a compound composed of 25% of soil taken from the site (30% clay, 40% silt and 30% sand), 40% from straw chopped rice, 25% rice husk and 10% hydraulic lime . The mixture has been mixed through the use of a wet pan mill, able to make the mixture homogeneous and workable.

in collaboration with

From design to construction

The bioclimatic project by RiceHouse takes advantages of the passive contribution of the sun thanks to its South West orientation where a large window is positioned to optimize natural light, but in particular is centered in the stratigraphy both in the roof, made of wood with an insulation in lime+chaff (RH300), both in the lime+chaff screed, light but thermal that allow to reach an energy requirement equal to a class A4. The monolithic wall printed in 3D was then finished internally with a shaving clay-lamina (RH400), smoothed and oiled with linseed oils.

The external casing, completely 3D printed on-site through the Crane WASP, has been designed with the aim of integrating natural ventilation systems and thermo-acoustic insulation systems in only one solution. The deposition of the material based on raw earth, straw and rice husk is controlled through articulated weaves able to confer at the same time constructive solidity and  geometric variation along the entire wall development. The versatility of the computational design  is in fact made possible in the construction practice thanks to the precision and speed of the 3D technology, obtaining complex geometries, difficult to replicate with the traditional construction systems. It took 10 days for the realization of the 3d printed casing, for a total of 30 square meters of wall whose thickness is 40 cm and the total cost of the materials used in the wall structure is € 900.

Possible developments and scenarios

On the basis of the data experimented with Gaia, it is possible to concretely conceive new economic scenarios in which one hectare of cultivated paddy field can become 100 square meters of built area.

Gaia experience offers the opportunity to divulge the multiple potential that 3D printing can express thanks to the world agricultural resources , guaranteeing a minimum environmental impact  in addition to infinite design solutions, essential in a new living frontier vision.

Crane WASP the Infinite 3d Printer

Project: Gaia  Inauguration: 6-7 October 2018  Location: Via Castelletto 104, Massa Lombarda (RA)  Design: WASP In collaboration with: RiceHouse  3d printer: Crane WASP  Surface: 20 sq.m.  Printed building envelope: 30 sq.m.  Total materials’ cost of the wall: 900 €  Materials: Raw soil, straw, rice husk, lime.  Construction time : 10 days

Press Office mail   [email protected] Download here the press kit

FAQ Frequently asked questions and insights

WHAT IS GAIA?

GAIA is the result of our 7 years of research in the field of 3D printing and architecture, we strongly wanted this architectural module to demonstrate which is the current potential of 3D printing in the architectural field, with its advantages and its limitations, and has an immersive experience for our guests.

WHAT DOES GAIA CONSIST OF?

GAIA was built with an evolution of traditional raw earth construction techniques. Great importance in this type of construction is given to the foundation, fundamental to avoid dangerous infiltration of water from the ground and to avoid breakage due to differential ground subsidence. In our case the foundation is made up of parts molded in cement mortar and reinforced concrete castings that also serve for the joint of the structure. The masonry in raw earth rests on a concrete slab and contains inside: the system of systems, the thermal insulation system and the external wall ventilation system. The glulam roof is supported by a pillar structure also made of laminated wood, embedded in the foundation, this guarantees the usability of the spaces in total safety.

WHICH PERFORMANCES AND WHICH COMFORT DOES THE HOUSE PROVIDE?

The thermal performance exceeded the design expectations, and proved to be very satisfactory. The average thermal transmittance of the molded masonry of the module is 0.249 W / m2K and makes possible, thanks to the excellent performance of the floor and roof elements, the cataloging of Gaia in energy class A4 . We are also monitoring internal environmental parameters to get a real feedback on the calculated values.

HOW MUCH RESISTANT IS TO ATMOSPHERIC AGENTS?

The GAIA architectural module has a physical protection against atmospheric agents, the wide covering guarantees a good protection against thunderstorms. The material used does not have any type of chemical protection that would alter its composition, nevertheless, there were no problems of washing out erosion.

HOW MUCH RESISTANT IS TO NATURAL DISASTERS?

GAIA was designed to be built in Massa Lombarda (RA) Italy and therefore complies with all current construction standards. The printed portion is loaded only by its own weight and appears as an external padding to the lamellar wood structure which supports the roof. Although our intent is to build entirely printed buildings, at the moment our technology does not allow us to provide the molded portions with a resistance and such resistance as to allow them to be used structurally in areas deemed to be at risk from earthquakes.

WHICH THE ADVANTAGES OF 3D PRINTING WITH EARTH AND STRAW?

• Customizable design: freedom of form, from the simplest to the most complex geometries generated by CAD software;
• High energy efficiency: the building envelope with earth, straw and husk, with insulation and ventilation chambers guarantees excellent transmittance values
• Advanced material: mixing earth, straw and rice husk, it is possible to obtain a composite and fiber-reinforced material suitable for 3D printing. The presence of vegetable fibers limits shrinkage during drying and significantly reduces the fragility of the earth material.
• Low impact materia l: the energy needed to transform the soil into 3D printing material is very little, but even less is that necessary for its disposal, in fact unless building is not maintained, it will soon be ground again.
• Speed ​​of construction : 2 men can build an enclosure that protects 20 square meters of floor space in 10 days.
• High Tech / Low Tech : new life to traditional techniques, in our case an ancient material such as raw earth combined with straw becomes with 3D printing a highly performing and workable material, like the most advanced building materials.
• Dissemination of knowledge: thanks to 3D printing, architectural projects can become processes capable of adapting to different contexts, this would increase the possibility of sharing knowledge connected to building on a global scale.
• Curative walls : we are developing a system of diffusion of essential oils inside the walls of the building to repel mosquitoes and parasites without using harmful substances. This system would guarantee the use of repellents without having direct contact with building users.
• Reuse of materials: all our projects are born to be placed in a circular economic model, for this reason waste materials such as soil, waste from the agri-food chain and rubble can be used for new constructions.

HOW LONG DID THE CONSTRUCTION TAKE?

The construction times are related to the type of material that is used:

• Using our mixture of raw earth and straw it is possible to extrude at a speed of 4200 mm / min with a maximum feed in height of 300 mm in 24 h to allow the drying of the material. This allowed us to print a wall consisting of 7 layers of 2.70 m high in 100 hours for a total of 22 km of car route. By simplifying the geometry, it is possible to reduce printing times to reach the desired height, but this does not coincide with our desire to obtain high performance walls.
• If you intend to use cement-based mixtures or that in any case by means of a chemical reaction they have a rapid change in state (from liquid to solid), it is possible to increase the progress in height reaching a limit of 150 mm / h. The speed of movement of the printer is instead related to the fluidity of the material, with well-calibrated materials it is possible to reach 6000 mm / min.

CAN ON-SITE MATERIALS BE USED?

GAIA is a unique case in the world, because it is tangible evidence that the principles of the circular economy can be applied in the construction and 3D technology sector. Gaia is the result of a limited and optimized use of agricultural resources , which through technology have been converted into a complex building envelope with minimal environmental impac t. We also believe it is possible to develop materials suitable for extrusion using mixtures of materials found on sites different from ours, without neglecting the possibility of using debris and rubble of pre-existing buildings properly shredded and mixed with new binders.

GAIA COULD BE PRINTED WITH CONCRETE?

GAIA is an architectural module derived from the desire of showing the full potential of our technology capable of using materials at zero Km , however it would be possible to realize the same concrete wall, but losing all the benefits of a construction in natural materials.

WHICH KIND OF BUILDING CAN I PRINT?

The shape of GAIA was born from the aim of obtaining the largest surface area possible with a single printer unit, the circular plan therefore allows to maximize the walkable area and reduce the wall surface. However, it is possible to print buildings with any imprint on the ground, in addition the Crane WASP is made to meet any size requirement. You can also print multi-storey buildings by editing the Crane WASP during printing, as long as the material used for printing allows it.

WHAT DOES IT COST?

To build the walls of GAIA were used:

• 800 kg of rice husk, 150 kg of rice straw, 11000 kg of ground soil and 800 kg of natural hydraulic lime. The masonry has a maximum height of 2.70 m for a total area of ​​30 square meters and a thickness that varies from 45 to 35 cm.
• The Crane WASP has a steady-state absorption of 1.1 Kw / h, while the pumping system has a steady-state absorption of 2.0 Kw / h. 290 Kw of electricity were used to complete the masonry of GAIA .
• The entire printing phase of 100 hours was followed by a person in charge of the preparation of the material and one in the 3D printing control, for a total of 200 hours of manpower .

GAIA is an architectural project that includes multiple processes. WASP has currently carried out research aimed at developing innovative systems for masonry and foundations.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST, ESPECIALLY IF COMPARED TO A TRADITIONAL HOUSE?

The evaluation of construction costs, comparing the 3D printed buildings with the ordinary ones, is not right because it does not make customers aware of the technological value of the former. It is instead appropriate to compare the opportunities offered by 3D technology in terms of constructive efficiency, spatial articulation and energy performance.

WHICH ARE THE NEXT STRATEGIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD?

Currently the company intends to evaluate the critical issues of the system and to bring the level of process automation to a higher level. The next step will be to approach the building world as a supplier of on-site 3D printing services. In a couple of years, when the whole system will reach a high degree of reliability, we will proceed with the sale of all the equipment necessary for printing.

WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT FROM THE FUTURE?

The interest and development of buildings through 3D printing is growing exponentially, however it is still difficult to imagine a real market spread in the upcoming years. WASP will be the protagonist in the evolution of this technology, offering new construction perspectives and new models of living.

Me gustaria poder hacer una casa de estas en el futuro . En spain, Bizkaia (cerca de Bilbao ) . Me gustaria tener el contacto y las posibilidades.

Thanks a lot for your interest and for your appreciation. We invite you to send an email to [email protected] to get further information. Keep in touch.

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Apis Cor 3D Prints a House in 24 Hours and Creates a Technological Showcase

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Once a laughable idea, 3D printed houses are lately being taken much more seriously by the public, as 3D printing and construction companies continue to prove that it’s a thing that can actually be done – and done well. 3D printed homes and other buildings have been appearing especially  prominently in China , while Dubai looks to outdo everyone else with the 3D printing of houses before long. It’s the first time a project like this has been seen in Russia, however, and the curved, single-story house in Stupino shows off all of the benefits of 3D printing in one stylish package.

The most obvious benefit of 3D printed buildings is the speed; no matter how much of a 3D industry veteran you are, you can’t help being awed at a full-sized house being constructed in a single day. Then there’s the design freedom; as Apis Cor says, the only restrictions on 3D printed building designs are the laws of physics, and the Stupino house’s swirling shape shows off the kind of creativity that architects are now able to exercise.

What sets Apis Cor’s technology apart from that of many other 3D printed construction companies is its ability to print both interior and exterior structures, as opposed to just the foundation. The company’s cranelike printer has the flexibility to move easily around the building area, with an extruder that rotates in two planes for added speed and versatility. The entire automated printing process requires very little human intervention – which means very little chance of human error, as Apis Cor points out.

Although the printing itself may have required few human hands, the full project was carried out by a large team of partners supporting Apis Cor and PIK, including:

• TechnoNICOL Corporation , a building materials manufacturer that provided two types of insulation: a liquid polyurethane composition for one part of the house and a solid material for the other, both of which fill gaps completely to prevent drafts
• BITEX Reibeputz , which supplied paint and decorative plaster
• Fabrika Okon , which developed fancy, high-tech windows with double glazing and built-in climate control

The roof of the house was designed to be perfectly flat, with a covering made from TechnoNICOL’s LOGICROOF polymer membranes, which are welded together with hot air at high speeds. Solid plates were applied for insulation atop the polymer surface, with the entire roof ending up lighter and thinner than most roofs while still providing adequate protection – more than adequate, actually. The flat design of the roof is capable of withstanding tremendous amounts of snow, while costing about the same as traditional peaked roofs.

The entire house is a display of technological wonders, while still remaining as “cozy and comfortable” as any other house, according to Apis Cor. The total construction cost of the house came to $10,134, which breaks down to about $275 per square meter. A traditionally square-shaped house with less fancy materials and appliances, says Apis Cor, would have cost about $223 per square meter.

You can see some of the building process below:

Discuss in the 3D Printed House forum at 3DPB.com.

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Case Study: QOROX 3D printing technology

QOROX's innovative 3D printing technology can be adapted to improve productivity in the construction sector.

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It can be difficult for suppliers with new and innovative products to enter the construction market. There are barriers to innovation, such as getting funding and growing to the scale, that’s required to achieve similar costs to traditional methods of construction. Construction is also an industry that is notoriously resistant to change – particularly in moving away from tested methods and adopting new technologies. However, innovation has an important part to play in increasing productivity in the sector.

One innovative supplier, QOROX, has proven how 3D printing technology can be adapted to improve productivity in the construction sector – including building the first hybrid timber and concrete house with 3D printed concrete walls in New Zealand. Key to this achievement is hard work, determination and having clients who are willing to adopt new technologies and work together to create new solutions to challenges in the sector.

"New Zealand has a productivity issue - we work 7% to 10% more hours and have 8% less productivity than the OECD average. Innovation is vital to increase our productivity and as an industry we need to overcome barriers like risk aversion, limited potential for scaling and funding challenges. "This Beacons case study is about QOROX's journey to overcoming these barriers. Meeting our climate goals while overcoming a housing crisis will require new ways of doing things, and the next generation plan for the Accord will place a lot more emphasis on supporting innovators to breakthrough." Alison Murray, Director - Construction Procurement Transformation.

QOROX case study video

Video Transcript

Scene 1 – opening

Construction Sector Accord logo.

Beacon Projects logo.

Construction work noises.

Music playing.

Shots of excavators on a construction site.

Text on screen: The Construction Sector Accord wants to see better productivity in construction. Innovation is one way to achieve it.

Shots of QOROX 3D printing equipment.

Judy Zhang: New Zealand has a productivity challenge. We work 7-10% more hours and we are 8% less productive than our OECD average. Construction can be a productive industry. It can a be low carbon, low waste sector. And first, to really achieve that we're going to have to embrace new ways of constructing.

Shots of construction work.

Nick Sterling: Construction compared to other industry sectors has quite a low productivity and also low research and development intensity. So this gives New Zealand businesses an opportunity to create solutions for R&D and innovation.

Judy Zhang: There are various innovation such as cost, scaling, funding, risk aversion. And we're also a sector that's notoriously resistant to change. The case study today is about QOROX. This is a organization that's going through their own innovation journey. And we want businesses and construction leaders to learn from their successes and the challenges that they face, to really adopt innovation and put it into practice in the New Zealand construction landscape.

Wafaey Swelim: Repeating the same answer to the problem, expecting different results, is a definition of madness. And I felt that this is what literally the construction industry is doing. It's just, we just keep on repeating the same answer to low productivity, high wastage, bad impact on the environment. And we're continuously short on people.

Image renders of 3D printed house design.

Text on screen: Hamilton-based QOROX is building the first completely 3D printed house in Australasia.

Drone footage of house with 3D printed concrete walls.

Text on screen : It's also building the country's first house to have 3D printed concrete walls. The company is the brainchild of Egyptian-born engineer Wafaey Swelim.

Wafaey Swelim: The technology was developed in the Netherlands by a company called CyBe and they also developed the material over there. The more I researched them, the more I believed that this is the future of the construction industry. I always had in mind that we need to make the material as locally sourced as much as possible. So we worked with Callaghan Innovations and Callaghan gave us a grant to develop a New Zealand mix. So the material that we use is mixed in New Zealand.

Shots of QOROX 3D printing equipment and workers 3D printing concrete.

Shots of Wafaey Swelim.

Logo: Callaghan Innovation.

Nick Sterling: We had a clear and a bold vision to provide technology solutions in housing that is scalable, that is affordable, environmentally sustainable, but can also be provided at speed.

Wafaey Swelim: We can even do it off site in a shelter or we can do it in place. So it gives us a lot more advantages and the biggest things is that, with a crew of two people you can print around 30 to 40 houses a year. You still need the guy to put the slab down, you still need the guy to put the roof on, you still have somebody to put the kitchen in. But this is one aspect of it.

Shots of 3D printed concrete.

Claire Davis: We were facing two main challenges with our project at the time. One was around timeframe and one was around budget. Then he'd printed off 10 for us within a week I think, it was amazing. And we got them to delivered just slightly, like the week after. So it was a pretty great process for us. Concrete, being not the most sustainable product, he came up with this great idea to rather than make concrete stools like solid concrete we actually made them hollow and filled them with shredded car tires. And the community reacted really well to it actually. They were really excited the Auckland Council was trying something new.

Shots of 3D printed outdoor seating

Text on screen: Auckland Council worked with QOROX to create outdoor seating at Emily Place in the Auckland CBD.

Wafaey Swelim: Hopefully in the future we will be able to develop more sustainable material that we'll be using. Integrating either waste material in it or maybe joint polymers or hempcrete. We don't know what the future will have for us. All of the trial and tested methods are failing. Our supply chain is broken, we cannot get construction material and if you have a good business model and you have a good technology, this will be the time to go for it.

Shots of QOROX 3D printing equipment and 3D printed concrete.

Judy Zhang: This is exciting. This is the exciting opportunity for our sector and the Accord is getting behind innovation. We want to break the low productivity cycle and create an innovation ecosystem where new ideas are constantly tried, developed and tested. So we build the knowledge base to share across the industry the lessons, the challenges and the successes. And this is how we're going to create a more productive construction industry for New Zealand.

Scene 3 - closing

Project overview.

Project goal:  To introduce their new product, 3D printed concrete, into the New Zealand construction sector.

Applies to: Suppliers looking to bring new products or technology to market in New Zealand, or clients and designers looking to incorporate new technologies into their projects.

Accord goals:

• Increase productivity

Accord outcomes:

• Improve resilience.

Accord principles:

• Working in a collaborative and inclusive way
• Fostering innovation, research and development.

Project stage:

• Ongoing development and expansion of the technology.

Beacon monitoring process: The Beacons team will monitor adoption of the new technology and find lessons for others in the sector to follow when introducing innovations into the New Zealand construction sector.

Two projects solving different problems

QOROX partnered with Dutch-owned construction technology firm, CyBe Construction, to provide access to the hardware and software for 3D printed concrete to be manufactured in New Zealand. Below are two of the projects that QOROX has developed since introducing the technology to the New Zealand construction sector.

Auckland Council street furniture

Auckland Council were completing a number of urban streetscape developments on Emily Place and Sale Street, but because of supply chain issues relating to COVID-19, the street furniture products experienced increased costs and some delays.

Auckland Council discovered QOROX through Hamilton City Council that used the technology for some of its park benches. The technology solved the cost and time issues they were facing and enabled a unique design to be developed. The design allowed the stools to be manufactured hollow and filled with old car tyres – lowering costs even further and reducing carbon and waste.

Huia Bay private house development

After seeing QOROX showcase its technology in the media, Steve Bell approached QOROX to construct his house in Huia Bay, West Auckland. It’s the first project of its kind in New Zealand, using 3D printed technology to create concrete loadbearing walls. The walls are printed in the factory as hollow core panels, then delivered to site and infilled with steel reinforcement and concrete once in position.

From leaving the factory to completing the installation, the process took five days. QOROX are already looking at reducing that time following lessons learnt on the project. The wall required less than half a day of mobile scaffolding to fill the concrete. A traditional block wall approach would have required up to four weeks installation time on site and full scaffolding during that time. The technology also meant the design could incorporate curved geometries and patterns with a high degree of control.

Transferring most of the construction of the walls to off-site manufacturing meant less labour-intensive activity on site, which reduced labour demand, lowered health and safety risks of working at height and delivered a high-quality finished product.

Early in the development process, QOROX invested in an intensive product testing process with the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ), giving confidence to both the client and the Building Consent Authority that 3D printed walls could deliver the same performance under the New Zealand Building Code as more traditional approaches.

In testing the 3D technology, QOROX initially had to import most of the materials from overseas to develop a mix that would allow the concrete to rapidly harden as it was being printed. To develop a viable product that could be used at scale in New Zealand, the company needed to develop a concrete mix that could be sourced with materials from within the country. This would provide clients with confidence in having a reliable source of materials and help to minimise transportation costs and environmental impact.

QOROX received invaluable support from Callaghan Innovation, which provided funding to help develop the New Zealand concrete mix and connected QOROX with stakeholders in the construction industry. QOROX engaged with BRANZ, Auckland University and industry experts to develop a roadmap for testing, compliance and adaptation of the technology for the market.

The Huia Bay project had already gained a building consent for traditional masonry walls. When Steve, the owner, decided to use 3D printed walls instead, QOROX, the design team and the builder reached out to Auckland Council seeking an amendment to the existing consent.

"My architect became enthusiastic in time, my builder was happy for me to take the risk and we engaged with the building inspectors, who agreed that it would be treated as a minor variation. The engineering company was engaged to reassess the engineering based on replacing concrete blocks for the 3D printed walls. "I understand that something that is very new will create concern and that the building inspectors will tend to be risk averse. We were asked to get a peer review on the engineering report and of course all of this has a cost impact. We've had our share of learning opportunities, but I have had confidence all the way through that we are going to get an awesome feature in our house. Steve Bell, owner of Huia Bay project.

QOROX took an incremental approach to innovation by adopting new technology to achieve an approach that is not dissimilar to that of pre-cast wall panels, which have been used extensively in the construction sector. However, the benefit of a 3D printed approach is that it removes the need for expensive moulds required for pre-cast wall panels. 3D printed panels are also similar to the traditional formwork solution used for concrete, but they can have a permanent and attractive appearance that becomes part of the final structure.

To trial the technology on a real project, QOROX actively sought out forward-thinking early adopters and found local councils that were willing to innovate. In the current market, rising inflation and ongoing supply issues to source traditional building materials has also driven smaller construction firms and architects to consider alternative methods.

Outcomes and benefits

Compared with traditional construction methods, 3D printing can reduce building times and waste. A wall measuring 2.5m (length) x 2.6m (height) x 0.25m (depth) with a surface area of 6.5sqm can be printed in approximately 60 minutes. As the printers themselves are mobile, outputs can be manufactured in the factory and transported to site, or even manufactured directly on site.

Reduced demand for labour and training

Training requirements for 3D printed concrete are minimal compared to more traditional construction methods. Training a brick and block layer can take anywhere between two to three years. By contrast, an operator is fully trained to use the printing equipment after four weeks of training. No previous machinery experience is required, however QOROX has typically employed people who have come from the building trade.

No specialist software for the design team

Architects and designers that submit designs to be printed also don't need to learn to use specialist software. QOROX works with DWG or DXF drawing files, so they just need to become familiar with the new type of construction process.

Improved quality of construction

Construction is delivered straight from the drawing to the 3D printer. A high degree of quality can be achieved and checked before the construction begins. More elaborate geometries can be used as well as intricate detail to create a pre-finished aesthetic.

Reduced labour and materials demand

The technology has the same opportunity to reduce the labour required on site as other off-site approaches. If adopted as a pre-finished product, like the Huia Bay project, it removes the need for some further tradespeople.

More information

Read the guide on how to implement a similar approach in your business .

Crown copyright © 2024

https://www.constructionaccord.nz/good-practice/beacon-projects/case-study-qorox-3d-printing Please note: This content will change over time and can go out of date.

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How the 3D Printing Medical Devices Market is Transforming Healthcare?

Sep 2, 2024

Blog Information Technology How the 3D Printing Medical Devices Market is Transforming Healthcare?

The 3D printing medical devices market is rapidly evolving, with innovations that are transforming the healthcare sector. This technology, also known as additive manufacturing, is no longer merely a tool for rapid prototyping; it has become a critical part of medical device production, enabling the creation of highly personalized, complex, and cost-effective solutions for patients and healthcare providers alike.

Here, we'll dive into the market growth, explore key applications and technologies, share expert insights, and examine leading companies and future trends shaping the 3D printing medical devices market.

Market Growth Outlook

The global 3D printing medical devices market is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. BCC Research estimates that the market will reach $4.5 billion by the end of 2029 from $2.2 billion in 2024, having grown from $2.1 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.7%. This growth is driven by advancements in 3D printing technologies, increasing demand for personalized medical solutions, and the rising adoption of these devices across multiple healthcare sectors.

Applications and Technologies in 3D Printing for Medical Devices

3D printing technology is being applied across a broad range of medical devices, including implants, prosthetics, surgical instruments, and anatomical models. Here’s how these applications are shaping the industry:

• Customized Implants and Prosthetics: 3D printing allows for the production of implants and prosthetics that are precisely customized to the exact anatomical specifications of patients. This level of customization leads to better fit, comfort, and functionality, significantly improving patient outcomes.
• Surgical Instruments: 3D printing is being used to create custom surgical tools that are designed to meet the specific needs of individual surgeries. These devices are often lighter, more ergonomic, and can be produced quickly, improving surgical precision and efficiency.
• Anatomical Models for Pre-Surgical Planning: Surgeons are increasingly using 3D-printed models of organs and bones to plan complex surgeries. These models, based on patient-specific data, provide a detailed visual and tactile representation of the patient’s anatomy, resulting in more accurate and successful surgeries.
• Bioprinting and Regenerative Medicine: One of the most exciting areas of 3D printing is bioprinting, which uses living cells to print tissues and potentially organs. While this technology is still in its early stages, it has the potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine and transplantation.

3D Printing Medical Devices: Global Markets

The global market for 3D printing medical devices reached $2.1 billion in 2023. The market is estimated to grow from $2.2 billion in 2024 to $4.5 billion by the end of 2029, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.7% from 2024 to 2029.

Expert Insights and Case Studies

• Scott Hollister, University of Michigan

Dr. Scott Hollister, a pioneer in the field of 3D-printed medical implants, emphasizes the transformative potential of 3D printing in personalized medicine. “The ability to create custom implants that perfectly match a patient’s anatomy is a significant leap forward in medical care. We’re not just talking about improving comfort—we’re talking about devices that can significantly enhance the quality of life for patients.”

• Case Study: Jaw Reconstruction with 3D-Printed Implants

A cancer patient who underwent jaw reconstruction surgery received a 3D-printed titanium implant, custom-designed to fit his unique anatomy. The implant was a perfect match, resulting in a faster recovery and better functional outcomes than traditional methods would have provided.

Key Companies in the 3D Printing Medical Device Industry

• Stratasys : Stratasys is a global leader in 3D printing technology that has made important contributions to the medical industry. The company’s 3D printers are used to generate surgical models, medical devices, and custom implants, helping to improve patient outcomes and streamline medical processes.
• Materialise NV : Based in Belgium, Materialise specializes in 3D printing software and services. The company is well-known for its innovative medical solutions, such as patient-specific implants and surgical guides, which improve surgical precision and efficacy.
• 3D Systems Corporation : A pioneer in 3D printing, 3D Systems provides various solutions for the healthcare industry, including the production of surgical guides, implants, and anatomical models. Their technology is widely used in hospitals and research institutions around the world.
• Stryker : This global leader in medical technology has incorporated 3D printing into its production of custom implants, particularly in orthopedics. Stryker’s 3D-printed titanium implants are renowned for their precision and quality.
• Renishaw : Renishaw is at the forefront of 3D-printed metal implants, particularly in the dental and cranial sectors. Their expertise in additive manufacturing and metrology has set them apart in the industry.

Future Trends in 3D Printing Medical Devices

Looking ahead, several trends are poised to shape the future of the 3D printing medical devices market:

• Advancements in Bioprinting: As bioprinting technology advances, we should expect to see more complex tissues and potentially organs being printed for transplantation, revolutionizing regenerative medicine.
• Increased Integration with AI: The usage of artificial intelligence in 3D printing is likely to grow, with AI helping to optimize designs, predict material behavior, and automate the production process.
• Greater Focus on Sustainability: As healthcare shifts towards more sustainable practices, 3D printing’s ability to reduce waste and use fewer materials will become increasingly important.
• Expansion into New Medical Fields: 3D printing is expected to expand beyond implants and prosthetics into new areas such as drug delivery systems and personalized medicine.
• Regulatory Developments: As the technology matures, regulatory bodies are expected to develop more comprehensive guidelines for 3D-printed medical devices to ensure their safety and efficacy.

The 3D printing medical devices market is poised for significant growth, driven by technological advancements and rising demand for personalized healthcare solutions. This technology is not only revolutionizing how medical devices are made but also improving patient outcomes and making healthcare more accessible. As 3D printing continues to evolve, it will play an increasingly vital role in the future of medicine, providing endless possibilities for innovation and improvement in patient care.

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Evaluation of macro- and micro-geometry of models made of photopolymer resins using the polyjet method.

1. Introduction

2. materials and methods, 3.1. macro-geometry analysis, 3.2. micro-geometry analysis, 4. discussion, 5. conclusions, author contributions, institutional review board statement, informed consent statement, data availability statement, conflicts of interest.

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Turek, P.; Bazan, A.; Budzik, G.; Dziubek, T.; Przeszłowski, Ł. Evaluation of Macro- and Micro-Geometry of Models Made of Photopolymer Resins Using the PolyJet Method. Materials 2024 , 17 , 4315. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17174315

Turek P, Bazan A, Budzik G, Dziubek T, Przeszłowski Ł. Evaluation of Macro- and Micro-Geometry of Models Made of Photopolymer Resins Using the PolyJet Method. Materials . 2024; 17(17):4315. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17174315

Turek, Paweł, Anna Bazan, Grzegorz Budzik, Tomasz Dziubek, and Łukasz Przeszłowski. 2024. "Evaluation of Macro- and Micro-Geometry of Models Made of Photopolymer Resins Using the PolyJet Method" Materials 17, no. 17: 4315. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17174315

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Build Your Own 3D Printed House, All in One Day

• Written by Osman Bari
• Published on March 13, 2017

In recent times, 3D printing technology has made some great strides in its production content and quality, and now it has successfully printed the world’s first liveable house in Stupino, Russia . Responsible for this feat are San Francisco 3D printing startup Apis Cor, and Russian real estate developer PIK, who began the project in December of last year.

“Now we can say with confidence that with Apis Cor solution, the construction 3D printing has leaped to a new evolutionary stage,” said the project team. “The company and its partners are confident that the house in Stupino was the first step that can convince the world that 3D technology in the construction market is a reality.”

The house was constructed using a combined mobile 3D printer and automatic mix and supply unit, developed specifically by Apis Cor. With a form similar to that of a tower crane, the printer was able to construct the building from both the inside and outside, incredibly completing the entirety of the load-bearing walls, partitions and building envelope in a single day.

According to the team, the unique design of the residential structure “was selected specifically, as one of the main purposes of this construction is to demonstrate the flexibility of equipment and diversity of available forms.”

With an area of 38 square meters, the sstory storey house comes complete with a hall, a bathroom, a living room and a small kitchen. In addition to this, the rooms are equipped with modern appliances courtesy of Samsung, one of five collaborators on the project. While the roof is built flat, it is able to endure snow load requirements with the use of polymer membrane patches, joined using hot air.

Complicating the process was the project’s timing; it was undertaken during the peak Russian winter, despite the fact that the printer’s concrete mix is only able to form at temperatures above 5°C. However, the equipment itself can function to temperatures of -35°C, allowing the house to be printed within the confines of an insulated tent. With geopolymers, however, houses will soon be able to be printed all year round.

Finishes, windows and insulation were installed and applied after the printing of the core structure, provided by third party suppliers. The printing process is flexible enough to allow for the various installations and fittings, adapting to required shapes.

One of the most notable aspects of the project is its cost-effectiveness, with construction costs totalling $10,134 or approximately $275 per square metre. These numbers account for the entire scope of work and materials required to erect a house , including the foundation, roof, exterior and interior finishes, and insulation.

According to the company, the 3D printing process results in savings of up to 70%, in comparison with traditional building techniques, such as the block method. “As you can see, with the advent of new technology, construction 3D printing is changing the view and approach to the construction of low-rise buildings and provides new opportunities to implement custom architectural solutions,” said Apis Cor.

See here for more on the specific materials and products used in the construction of the house , and all the partners involved in the project.

News via: Apis Cor .

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