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With affordability, safety, and sustainability in mind, here’s how 3D printed homes are changing homebuilding for the better.

The United States housing market reportedly experienced its highest rate of increase in the last fifteen years for home sales in the spring of 2021. In the second year of the global pandemic, many were seeking new places to relocate to, and finding it a challenge to land more affordable and safer dwellings. On top of this housing crisis, there was also a labor crisis to address, especially in rural and small communities in North America. 

One very clever and innovative solution that emerged to resolve both of these problems came in the form of giant 3D printers that printed entire houses. These are not just model or showroom houses either, but actual homes for real-life people. 

Habitat for Humanity, the largest non-profit organization that helps people in marginalized communities build their own homes has partnered with a few 3D homebuilders and construction companies to print new homes. That’s right—print.

No Hammers, No Nails

When people mention the word “print”, paper immediately comes to mind, which is probably why the concept of a 3D printed home may seem amazing and out-of-this-world at first. 3D printed homes use special concrete or cement mixes, which vary from one construction company to the next. 

3D construction companies usually have and use proprietary giant printers that use secret, special blends of concrete to construct the homes they make. Each company has its own type of printer and own blend of concrete used, but the concept of 3D printing remains the same. 

No hammers or nails are required here, only a digital file of the master design that the printer follows. Layers of concrete are poured steadily from the ground up to build the structure. Provisions for wiring and plumbing are taken into account when the house is printed, making it possible for workers to make the necessary installations while the house is being printed. 

Safe, Affordable, Efficient

There are many cool benefits of 3D printed homes. NBC did a story on 3D printed homes in 2021 and reported that compared to houses that are built traditionally, 3D printed homes can lower construction costs by about $4,000 per house. Not only that but walls and foundations that normally take weeks to construct now only take a few days with 3D printing. It would also take fewer people on the ground to print a 3D home, which means there are significant savings when it comes to labor. 

Because 3D printed homes make use of superior material, 3D printed homes are safer, sturdier, and can withstand harsh weather conditions. Unlike wood, the concrete blend used in 3D printed homes is not prone to fire or mold. This makes a strong case for those who live in areas where flooding and tornadoes are a concern. 

It may be said that 3D homes are built in half the time for half the price, and if these structures are safe too, then it’s no wonder 3D homes are quickly gaining popularity around the world. 

All this and stylish, too

Another benefit of 3D printed homes is the flexibility homeowners have in terms of design and architecture. Modern design seems to be a key feature of a lot of luxury homes today, but with 3D printed homes, a sleek, beautifully designed house can be had for way cheaper. 

3D homes have a signature textured look because of the layering involved in the process. This adds to its unique look and feel. And when it comes to the house’s actual design, all that’s really required is an architect’s design to custom-build one’s dream house. One couple who lives in the Netherlands was able to build an ultra-modern 3D printed home for a fraction of a luxury house. 

Around the world in 3D printed houses

Let’s take a closer look at some of the more iconic 3D printed homes that have already been built around the world. These amazing homes and structures are proof that stylish modern dwellings can be made more efficiently and more affordable than their traditional counterparts.

Photo taken from iconbuild.com press kit. Photo Credit: Regan Morton Photography

Based in Texas, Icon Construction is one of the United States’ largest names in 3D construction. With many on-ground projects under their belt, they have worked with several rural and marginalized communities to provide better, safer, and more affordable homes. The company also built the barracks for the Texas National Guard in Camp Swift, the largest 3D printed structure in Northern America.

Photo taken from iconbuild.com press kit. 

Germany-based 3D construction company, Peri officially opened its first 3D printed home in 2021. Using their COBOD BOD2 printer, the printing system boasted of a print head that was able to move three axes on a securely installed metal frame, enabling the printer to move along its frame to any position within the construction. Only needing to be calibrated once, the system saved time and cut down on costs. Plus, the house looks great. 

Photo taken from Peri.com press kit

The 3D printed habitat called TECLA (named for “technology and clay”) was built by Italy’s leading 3D printing construction company, WASP. According to its builders, this is an “eco-sustainable” habitat constructed out of reusable, recyclable materials. Unlike some of their other 3D printing construction counterparts who use special blends of concrete, the Italian company looks toward more organic and greener materials such as hemp to construct their 3D homes.

Photo taken from 3Dwasp.com press kit for TECLA

An affordable, low-cost two-story apartment complex called G+7 is being built in Mumbai by CyBe, a 3D construction company based in the Netherlands. While single-floor and single-detached 3D printed homes are quickly becoming popular in Northern America, this initiative poses a challenge to create affordable and livable urban dwellings at a lower cost than traditional apartment buildings. Its 

An affordable, low-cost two-story apartment complex called G+7 is being built in Mumbai by CyBe, a 3D construction company based in the Netherlands. While single-floor and single-detached 3D printed homes are quickly becoming popular in Northern America, this initiative poses a challenge to create affordable and livable urban dwellings at a lower cost than traditional apartment buildings. Its success may provide a positive precedent for other densely-populated urban areas around the globe. 

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