Mthuli Ncube
August 13, 2024
Germany's first 3D printed house was built in just 100 hours. The walls were printed with a nozzle that moves at 1 meter per second. The fireplace, kitchen island, and bathtub were also printed. The house has 160 square meters of living space over two floors. It was designed by architects Mense Korte. The walls are made of an inner and outer shell with insulation in between.
3D printing can be cheaper and less wasteful than traditional construction methods. Homes built this way are popping up all over the world. India's first 3D printed home costs 30% less than traditional construction methods and generates 65% less waste. It also has a smaller carbon footprint.
In Texas, a robot called Vulcan built six 3D houses in two days for a community in Austin that welcomes formerly homeless people. The global 3D printing construction market was worth $3 million in 2019 and is expected to reach $1.6 billion by 2024. Supporters say this technology could boost the world's supply of affordable housing.
3D-printed homes are still a new technology, but they have the potential to revolutionize the construction industry. They could provide a more affordable and sustainable way to build homes, and they could help to address the global housing crisis.
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