3D Printed Houses- An Economic and Environmentally Sound Construction Method
https://architectoutsourcing.com/blogs/pros-and-cons-of-3d-printed-construction/
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As amazing as it sounds, 3D printing of houses could help reduce waste and aide in the current affordability crisis in the housing industry. The construction industry contributes heavily to pollution, and has a high injury rate and cost. The ability to 3D print houses can ease the current housing affordability crisis while reducing waste and pollution.
Alquist 3D, a construction firm in the 3D printing space is working to produce 200- 3D printed houses in Virginia. Alquist recently worked with Habitat for Humanity to produce a beautiful concrete home for a needy family in the USA. The quality of their work speaks for itself. The 3D printing of concrete utilizes a gantry or overhead supported moving structure similar to a bench-top 3D printer with a header. A computer program drives the header and the stream of concrete to create the outer structure of the home that can be augmented with finishing as desired. The most amazing part is that the printing takes an average of only 28-hours to complete and the technology employed reduces waste and cost as well.
The process of 3D printing of houses is still being refined. The efficiency, speed and cost reduction are amazing, but the energy required is high. The 3D printing of houses on a wide scale could potentially result in a large loss of jobs in the construction industry. Labor could work to add decorations onto the houses, and neighborhood character would result in customization. We need to reimagine how we want neighoods to be, and if houses could be seen as durable goods to be replaced every 50-60 years. In addition, 3D printed houses can be made from recycled materials including plastics and concrete, which adds to their "green industry" appeal.
A major issue that exists with building codes for 3D houses. Currently, building codes are not cut and dry for 3D printed houses. These codes must be updated for the current reality, and this makes a huge difference where they can be built. If the industry is to expand and scale, we need the underlying building codes to catch up. This is a big hurdle to catch up with.
Housing projects utilizing 3D printing concrete units have been undertaken in China with success. Much of the world uses concrete to build dwellings as opposed to wood or other materials. The ability to create the basic housing structure in 28-hours is amazing, and the savings on cost can be passed to the consumer.
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