3D-printed houses are one of the emerging construction technologies. It began in the 1930s with William E. Urschel in 1939, who 3D-printed buildings in Indiana, USA. Since then, 3D-printed houses have existed, evolving the field further. This type of house is constructed using a special concrete mix applied layer by layer by a large, computer-controlled printer. This method takes less time and is more efficient. However, these houses also present their challenges that must be addressed to achieve optimal results. By examining a few examples of 3D-printed houses, one can gain a better understanding of the process, challenges, as well as advantages. 

What is a 3D-printed house?

• A printed house is a dwelling constructed for living, through 3D printing as its primary means of construction. 
• It takes up less money and costs less in comparison to other construction techniques. 
• 3D-printed house possesses free-form, curvilinear shapes made out of cement mix, and is also highly customizable. 
• Its sizes vary from a prototype under study to move-in affordable housing and even high-end luxury homes. 
• Sometimes these houses are considered to be a way to shelter unhoused communities and a gateway to sustainable, biodegradable housing solutions.

How are 3D-printed houses built?

• The entire multi-unit 3D-printed housing is developed one layer at a time with a repetitive additive process in additive manufacturing.
• The 3D printer dispenses a paste-like mixture with a blue blueprint. Furthermore, the mixture consists of materials ranging from sand and special polymers to bio-resins like soil, clay, or wood flour, which is fine sawdust mixed with a corn-based binder. 
• Industrial 3D-printers have robotic arms that are fixed to produce a hollow cube or any kind of structure, reading from the blueprints.
• Like a desk-side inkjet printer, the mixture is then heated during a thermal extraction process.
• The paste is squeezed through a nozzle, bringing digital rendering into physical form. 
• The mixture is then solidified by a concrete dryer before the next layer is applied. It continues till all uploaded building elements are complete.
• Specialists must be on-site to cut holes for second-fix installations such as plumbing, electrical wiring, doors, and windows. 

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

• The cost of a 3D-printed house varies from project to project, depending on the company hired and also the materials used. 
• Along with that, it also depends upon the geographic location, size, amenities, design complexities, and so on.

What are the advantages and the challenges of a 3D-printed house?

• A 3D-printed house has the advantages of lower labor cost, reduced construction time, as well as increased design flexibility.
• However, it also has challenges, such as limited material options, the potential for visible layer lines, and the need for processing. 
• While there are significant cost savings, initial costs for equipment and specialized labor are high, and the technology is relatively new, raising concerns about long-term durability and structural integrity.

Advantages:

Faster Construction: 

3D-printed house reduces construction time compared to other normal construction techniques, as it is a completely machine-based process. Additionally, these houses have everything pre-decided, which makes the manufacturing fast. 

Reduced labor costs:

As the machines have taken over the whole manufacturing process. Moreover, fewer human laborers are needed.

Greater Design Flexibility:

These houses can handle more complex designs, as related to architecture, and can also be as flexible as possible in terms of spaces.

Less Waste:

Due to the pre-decided and planned process of design, this house creates less amount of material waste, promoting sustainability.

Durability:

As these houses use new technology for manufacturing, they use materials like concrete that will be more durable in character. 

Cost Savings:

As they use less labor and materials in the making of the 3D-printed house, they have lower costs for construction, hence saving more money and time.

Disadvantages:

High Initial Costs:

3D-printed houses need machinery that is capable of understanding and manufacturing complex designs. Moreover, such machines need investments in the beginning. 

Limited Material Options:

As the 3D-printing is not a very developed technology, it has very limited material options available with which it can be made.

Durability Concerns:

Made of concrete, they are not that reliable in extremely harsh conditions.

Design limitations:

As the complex designs need more processing and planning, these houses, moreover, have to be limited to certain designs.

Post-processing Requirements:

3D-printed house requires post-processing, such as smoothing surfaces and adding insulation, which can add time and cost. 

What are the different architectural styles for a 3D-printed house?

Modern Minimalist

Clean Lines

3D-printed houses that have precise and clean geometric shapes that are difficult to achieve with traditional construction methods have modern minimalist architecture.

Modular Design

Modular designs in 3D printing allow for having scalable and customizable designs, for different preferences and needs.

Open Spaces

These houses can have open floor plans that have openings that can infuse sunlight into the open plans of the house.

Organic and Sculptural

Curved walls and roof

3D-printing allows to have free-flowing organic shapes that are difficult to make with traditional construction methods. Moreover, this gives flexibility to the designs and makes them more eye-catching. 

Intricate Detailing

As the 3D-printed house is manufactured with the help of machines, it can have any details that are planned. The details can be very finely manufactured with the help of the technology, as well as the materials used. 

Integration with nature

These houses can be infused with nature by using appropriate materials.

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly

Material Choice

3D-printed house allows one to use materials such as bio-resins, recycled concrete, and locally sourced materials, reducing environmental impact.

Reduced Waste

The 3D-printed house can have very little waste in comparison to the traditional construction method.

Faster Construction

It has less time in construction and has a speedy recovery when needed.

Innovative and Experimental

Geodesic Domes

These houses can have complex structural designs, such as geodesic domes, which can make spacious structures

Parametric Designs

These houses can have parametric designs that have different shapes and structures according to the needs and requirements. 

Intricate exterior cladding

These houses can have very intricate and detailed designs for the exterior cladding of the house.

L&T constructed two-storey 3D-printed house   

• Larsen & Toubro Construction has now completed the country’s first 3D-printed two-storey building. 
• The house is located at the company’s Kanchipuram facility near the city of Chennai.
• This house is fully compliant with all of India’s building codes. 
• This house has a modest 65 square meter of floor space fabricated using a large-format 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. 

Conclusion

Looking at the technological innovation, the construction of these houses is evolving gradually. This makes the construction process easy and affordable for people who want modular types of homes. The 3D-printed house enables one to have complex and innovative designs that are not possible to make with the traditional construction system. In order to use multiple materials in living spaces, one has the benefit of building this house. Hence, a 3D-printed house is going to be the future of construction technologies. 

Content Writing and Research: Rajeshwari Pandya Modi