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Over the last five years, 3D printing technology has produced numerous incredible structures all over the world, including 3D printed houses, cabins, offices, bridges, pavilions, large-scale structures, shelters, and more! As 3D construction grows, it has the potential to disrupt the traditional construction process.<\/p>\n
But before we get into all the amazing projects, let\u2019s take a short look at the advantages of 3D printed houses:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Inexpensive:<\/strong>\u00a0Large-scale industrial buildings can be constructed for a relatively low price. Construction sites also need fewer workers.<\/li>\n
- Shorter construction periods:<\/strong>\u00a0With many structures printed in a matter of days, 3D printing shelters, for example, can be beneficial for victims of natural disasters.<\/li>\n
- Environmentally friendly:\u00a0The materials you can use for 3D printing houses include concrete, plastic, and raw soil and natural waste from the rice production chain.<\/li>\n
- Uncommon shapes:<\/strong>\u00a03D printing can generate shapes that are impossible or too expensive to manufacture otherwise.<\/li>\n
- Otherworldly potential:<\/strong>\u00a0NASA already has plans to use 3D printing for colonies on Mars.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Note: This article won\u2019t solely be looking at houses. Instead, we\u2019ll be focusing on usable 3D printed structures\u00a0that are either already built or in-progress. That said, there are, of course, many 3D printed structures already standing around the world. Note that our list of projects is in chronological order, with the earliest first.<\/p>\n
Mini-Castle<\/h3>\n
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This castle was built with a concrete 3D printer developed by the architect (Source: Total Kustom Technology)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Our first pick is this\u00a0majestic 3D printed castle<\/a>, created by Andrey Rudenko, who also developed the\u00a03D Concrete House Printer<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Rudenko\u2019s 3D printing system is capable of printing layers of concrete 10 millimeters high by 30 millimeters wide. This relatively small layer height enables exceptional details, especially when it comes to concrete 3D printing. It\u2019s those fine details that give this 3D printed castle an incredibly smooth and curvy appearance.<\/p>\n
The structure was the first built by Rudenko and has enabled him to learn and improve his machine for more ambitious projects. After completing this project in 2014, the innovative maker announced that he was considering printing a full-sized house. While that hasn\u2019t happened yet, his printers are being used in other projects, as we\u2019ll see later.<\/p>\n
- \n
- What:<\/strong>\u00a015-square-meter miniature castle<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2014<\/li>\n
- Where:\u00a0<\/strong>Minnesota, USA<\/li>\n
- Who:\u00a0<\/strong>Andrey Rudenko<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
“Urban Cabin”<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/03\/5e8b3c25e81a756e.png\")
This “Urban Cabin” is a place of refuge in central Amsterdam (Source: DUS Architects)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n This 3D printed \u201cUrban Cabin<\/a>\u201d is a mini-retreat in the midst of Amsterdam, designed and built by DUS Architects. The cabin is one part of a research project focusing on compact and sustainable housing solutions in urban environments. This and other projects aim to showcase how 3D printing can offer solutions for disaster relief and temporary functional housing.<\/p>\n
The tiny 3D printed house, taking up only 25 cubic meters, includes a porch and a sofa that transforms into a twin bed. There\u2019s even a bathtub outside! The project was fabricated using FDM 3D printing with\u00a0sustainable bio-plastic materials<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Since the cabin\u2019s completion, the architects at DUS have been developing other 3D printing projects, including the \u201cCanal House\u201d and\u00a0custom furniture in Japan<\/a>.<\/p>\n
- \n
- What:<\/strong>\u00a08-square-meter cabin<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2015<\/li>\n
- Where:\u00a0<\/strong>Amsterdam, the Netherlands<\/li>\n
- Who:\u00a0<\/strong>DUS Architects<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Lewis Grand Hotel Extention<\/h3>\n
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A combination of sand and volcanic ash are used as the 3D printed construction material (Source: Total Kustom Technology)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n While the\u00a0Lewis\u00a0Grand Hotel<\/a>\u00a0in the Philippines was built using traditional techniques, its last expansion included 3D printed bedrooms, living rooms, and a jacuzzi room. The custom-built 3D printed area was developed by Lewis Yakich, the hotel owner who\u2019s also a material science engineer, with the help of Andrey Rudenko, whose castle project we started the list off with.<\/p>\n
The 130-square-meter extension took over 100 hours to 3D print. Yakich printed the hotel section with a combination of sand with volcanic ash, resulting in stronger walls and improved bonding between layers. He claimed that the project saved him 60% on building costs.<\/p>\n
Sadly, Lewis Yakich mysteriously vanished after a business meeting in 2015 and hasn\u2019t been seen since.<\/p>\n
- \n
- What:<\/strong>\u00a0130-square-meter hotel extension<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2015<\/li>\n
- Where:\u00a0<\/strong>North of Manila, Philippines<\/li>\n
- Who:\u00a0<\/strong>Lewis Yakich<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
AMIE<\/h3>\n
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AMIE is the integration of a solar-powered house with a hybrid electric vehicle, both of which are 3D printed (Source: SOM)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Additive Manufacturing Integrated Energy (AMIE) was created by the Department of Energy\u2019s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).<\/p>\n
This one-of-a-kind project consists of more than just a 3D printed house: It\u2019s a solar-powered building that\u2019s connected to a hybrid electric vehicle, designed to create an integrated energy system. The 3D printed vehicle can provide energy to the home at night, while solar panels provide energy to the vehicle during the day.<\/p>\n
Both the mobile home\u00a0and car were manufactured by\u00a0ORNL\u2019s\u00a0BAAM 3D printer<\/a>\u00a0out of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer material. Developed with\u00a0Cincinnati Inc.<\/a>, this large-scale 3D printer is capable of printing objects as large as 20 x 12 x 6 feet in size. The solar-powered building (38 x 12 x 13 feet) was drafted by the architecture firm\u00a0Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM)<\/a>\u00a0and assembled by Clayton Homes.<\/p>\n
Since this project, ORNL has continued to work with 3D printing projects, including not only vehicles and buildings, but also heavy machinery and even a\u00a0submersible<\/a>.<\/p>\n
- \n
- What:<\/strong>\u00a045-square-meter building, accompanying hybrid vehicle<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2015<\/li>\n
- Where:\u00a0<\/strong>Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA<\/li>\n
- Who:<\/strong>\u00a0ORNL<\/a>,\u00a0SOM<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
“Office of the Future”<\/h3>\n
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The “Office of the Future” houses the operational headquarters of the Dubai Futures Foundation (Source: All News)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n According to Guinness World Records, the so-called\u00a0\u201cOffice of the Future<\/a>\u201d is the very first 3D printed commercial building. It was designed by the architecture firm\u00a0Gensler<\/a>\u00a0for the United Arab Emirates National Committee as the headquarters for the\u00a0Dubai Futures Foundation<\/a>. This 3D printed office is a fully-functional building featuring electricity, water, telecommunications, and even air-conditioning systems.<\/p>\n
The structure was 3D printed by Chinese company\u00a0Winsun<\/a>\u00a0in their factory in Shanghai. Once all parts were ready, they were shipped to Dubai.<\/p>\n
Despite this, the project ultimately claims to have reduced labor costs by 50 to 80 percent and construction waste by 30 to 60 percent. The entire building took only 17 days to print, which were then followed by an on-site installation that took an additional two days.<\/p>\n
This building is considered the catalyst behind the construction 3D printing boom happening in Dubai, as we\u2019ll see further on in the list.<\/p>\n
- \n
- What:<\/strong>\u00a0240-square-meter office<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2016<\/li>\n
- Where:\u00a0<\/strong>Dubai, United Arab Emirates<\/li>\n
- Who:<\/strong>\u00a0Gensler<\/a>,\u00a0Winsun<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Rotor-shaped Residence<\/h3>\n
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A 3D printed house that can withstand minus 35 \u00b0C temperatures (Source: Kenya Foy via Apartment Therapy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n This\u00a03D printed house<\/a>\u00a0sits about 60 miles south of Moscow and was one of the most popular 3D printing-related projects at its completion.<\/p>\n
What makes\u00a0Apis Cor\u2019s project unique is that all of the main components were fabricated on-site. This allowed reduced transportation and assembly costs. On top of that, the total 3D printing time amounted to just 24 hours.<\/p>\n
Using a mixture of solid elements and liquid polyurethane, Apis Cor was also able to create all of the heating insulation material on-site. The interior of this rotor-shaped residence has a contemporary style with wood flooring and is furnished with appliances from Samsung.<\/p>\n
The final result is a modern, round-walled home. According to Apis Cor, the entire construction cost around $10,000 and can withstand temperatures as low as minus 35 \u00b0C.<\/p>\n
Since then, the American company has gone on to create more 3D printed structures, as we\u2019ll see later on the list.<\/p>\n
- \n
- What:\u00a0<\/strong>38-square-meter house<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2016<\/li>\n
- Where:\u00a0<\/strong>Stupino, Russia<\/li>\n
- Who:<\/strong>\u00a0Apis Cor<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Public Restroom<\/h3>\n
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The first ever 3D printed public restrooms were created for China’s International Tourism Expo (Source: Winsun)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Need a bathroom break? Head over to the\u00a03D printed public restroom area<\/a>\u00a0created by none other than Chinese company Winsun, in its second appearance in this list.<\/p>\n
The completed 3D printed structure has a sleek, modern vibe, with amenities including restrooms for men and women, as well as a special facilities designated for children and handicapped individuals. The restroom area is surrounded by yellow and green 3D printed leaf sculptures, giving the bathroom a natural aesthetic.<\/p>\n
The entire project was completed in just one month and was mainly printed out of Winsun\u2019s factory and assembled on-site. Though these restroom facilities were created specifically for China\u2019s International Tourism Expo, as far as we know, they remain open to the public.<\/p>\n
- \n
- What:<\/strong>\u00a0Restroom buildings<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2016<\/li>\n
- Where:\u00a0<\/strong>Dayang Mountain, China<\/li>\n
- Who:<\/strong>\u00a0Winsun<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Two-Story Villa<\/h3>\n
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Seismic testing estimates that this villa could withstand an 8.0 earthquake (Source: Richard Wheatstone via Mirror)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n This\u00a03D printed\u00a0two-story villa<\/a>\u00a0was created\u00a0by HuaShang Tengda, Winsun\u2019s main competitor in China. Printed entirely on-site, building the entire 400-square-meter villa only took 45 days. To build it, HuaShang Tengda first erected the frame of the villa, and then proceeded to print concrete over the framing with their custom-built 3D printing system.<\/p>\n
The walls of the villa are made with 20 tons of C30-grade concrete, measuring 250 mm in thickness, making the structure exceptionally durable. Seismic testing estimates found that the 3D printed villa should be capable of withstanding a level eight earthquake on the Richter scale.<\/p>\n
All in all, the project has proved HuaShang Tengda\u2019s 3D printed construction expertise and that it\u2019s a worthy adversary of Winsun.<\/p>\n
- \n
- What:<\/strong>\u00a0400-square-meter villa<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2016<\/li>\n
- Where:<\/strong>\u00a0Beijing, China<\/li>\n
- Who:<\/strong>\u00a0HuaShang Tengda<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
“Building on Demand”<\/h3>\n
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The BOD is arguably Europe’s first 3D printed house (Source: IndblikPlus)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The BOD<\/a>, which stands for \u201cBuilding on Demand\u201d, is\u00a0claimed as Europe\u2019s first 3D printed house. Designed by COBOD, a civil construction branch of\u00a03D Prinhuset<\/a>, the project was developed thanks to COBOD\u2019s participation in the Danish government\u2019s \u201c3D Construction Printing\u201d project.<\/p>\n
The house\u2019s design sought to illustrate the economic and architectural advantages of 3D printing houses, boasting not a single straight wall; the windows and doors are the only straight elements. The BOD\u2019s foundation is also partially 3D printed, another challenge to traditional building techniques.<\/p>\n
COBOD has recently received funding for its next generation of 3D printers. In addition to having these new systems ready for Denmark\u2019s N3xt Con in 2021, COBOD also wants to create an entirely new 3D printed building designed by the famous architect\u00a0Bjarke Ingels<\/a>.<\/p>\n
- \n
- What:<\/strong>\u00a050-square-meter house<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2017<\/li>\n
- Where:<\/strong>\u00a0Copenhagen, Denmark<\/li>\n
- Who:<\/strong>\u00a0COBOD<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Yhnova House<\/h3>\n
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This house took 54 hours to 3D print but 4+ months to complete (Source: European Construction Sector Observatory)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The\u00a0Yhnova House\u00a0was developed by the University of Nantes in collaboration with Nantes Digital Sciences Laboratory (LS2N) as part of Nantes\u2019 Design Week in 2017. It was built using the university\u2019s own patented technology known as\u00a0Batiprint3D<\/a>, which\u00a0also includes\u00a0traditional construction methods.<\/p>\n
The 95-square-meter house took 54 hours to 3D print and over 4 months for internal and external finishings (doors, windows, and roofing). According to the project\u2019s creators, it\u2019s entirely thermally-insulated and optimizes air circulation.<\/p>\n
Although the Yhnova House was finished in 2017, it only truly became a home in 2018 when the Ramdani family moved in. They became the world\u2019s first inhabitants of a 3D printed structure and have been living there since.<\/p>\n
- \n
- What:<\/strong>\u00a095-square-meter house<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2017<\/li>\n
- Where:<\/strong>\u00a0Nantes, France<\/li>\n
- Who:\u00a0<\/strong>University of Nantes<\/a>,\u00a0LS2N<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Gaia<\/h3>\n
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Gaia is the result of over seven years of WASP’s research efforts into 3D printing houses (Source: WASP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Gaia<\/a>\u00a0is the culmination of Italian 3D printer manufacturer WASP\u2019s efforts into house construction. This structure is an important milestone in its more ambitious project known as the\u00a0Shamballa Village<\/a>, which hopes to be the world\u2019s first community living entirely in 3D printed homes.<\/p>\n
This 3D printed house used WASP\u2019s 3D print crane technology, which takes\u00a0natural material<\/a>\u00a0from the local surroundings. The eco-sustainable model employs raw soil and natural waste from the rice production chain, aiming to achieve an efficient product from a bio-climatic perspective. It\u2019s a perfect approach to building low-cost houses, and its design avoids the need for heating or air conditioning systems throughout the year.<\/p>\n
The Shamballa project is still alive as of today and is focused on sustainability and cost reduction.<\/p>\n
- \n
- What:<\/strong>\u00a012-square-meter house<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2018<\/li>\n
- Where:<\/strong>\u00a0Massa Lombarda, Italy<\/li>\n
- Who:\u00a0<\/strong>WASP<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Lotus House<\/h3>\n
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The “Lotus House” didn’t use traditional 3D printing construction methods (Source: Liam Otten via Archinect)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n This is one of those proof-of-concept projects that seeks to establish a symbiotic relationship between the building process and nature. The \u201cLotus House<\/a>\u201d was designed and\u00a0fabricated by students<\/a>\u00a0from\u00a0Washington University in St. Louis for\u00a02018\u2019s Solar Decathlon in Dezhou, China<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0WashU team\u00a0focused on reducing CO2 emissions and material waste during the construction process.<\/p>\n
In this project, however, 3D printing was not used directly as a construction method. Rather, it was applied in surface mold production of the walls, which were then cast with concrete. Each mold can be reused at least 100 times, as opposed to wooden molds that can only be used twice.<\/p>\n
The \u201cLotus House\u201d has a human circulation design, seeking to stretch the flexibility and functionality of spaces along with the house. Its core is the dining room, based on Chinese culture dynamics of the kitchen being an area for collective gathering.<\/p>\n
- \n
- What:<\/strong>\u00a060-square-meter house<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2018<\/li>\n
- Where:<\/strong>\u00a0Dezhou, China<\/li>\n
- Who:\u00a0<\/strong>Washington University in St. Louis<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
New Story<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/03\/b9be4b9c3d93feb3.png\")
New Story’s goal is to print 50 houses by the end of 2020 (Source: Icon)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n As we know, traditional homebuilding isn\u2019t always sufficient for satisfying the needs of sheltering a growing population. That\u2019s why New Story, a non-profit organization building affordable and secure houses for vulnerable communities, partnered with Icon, a robotics start-up based in Austin, Texas. Their\u00a0Vulcan II 3D concrete 3D printer<\/a>\u00a0could be the key to provide homes for those in dire need.<\/p>\n
Although New Story has been consistently developing projects in countries like El Salvador, Haiti, and Bolivia, its latest on-going project in Mexico is said to be the world\u2019s first all 3D printed community.<\/p>\n
The first units were completed in late 2019 and they look amazing! The basic layout includes two bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, and living space. The project aims to build over 50 homes.<\/p>\n
- \n
- What:<\/strong>\u00a045-square-meter house<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2019<\/li>\n
- Where:<\/strong>\u00a0Tabasco, Mexico<\/li>\n
- Who:<\/strong>\u00a0New Story<\/a>,\u00a0Icon<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Largest 3D Printed Building<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/03\/1aa36966e76a71c6.png\")
The Municipality of Dubai’s administrative building is the world’s largest 3D printed building (Source: Thomas Page via CNN)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Yet another record-breaking project by Apis Cor, this project for the\u00a0Municipality of Dubai<\/a>\u00a0is the largest 3D printed building to date. The two-story 650-square-meter space was manufactured by Apis Cor\u2019s own stationery printer, which was moved around the construction site to accomplish this feat.<\/p>\n
This project also served as research and development for Apis Cor since its equipment had to endure harsh environmental conditions during construction.<\/p>\n
Apis Cor is currently developing US-based projects to build affordable housing in Florida, Louisiana, and California. The company has also won NASA\u2019s 3D printed Habitat Competition in 2019, together with\u00a0SEArch+<\/a>, bringing space inhabitation one step closer.<\/p>\n
- \n
- What:<\/strong>\u00a0640-square-meter administrative building<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2019<\/li>\n
- Where:<\/strong>\u00a0Dubai,\u00a0United Arab Emirates<\/li>\n
- Who:<\/strong>\u00a0Apis Cor<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
First in Africa<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/03\/2fde828c43100fd3.png\")
This 32-square-meter house was created in only 12 hours by Be More 3D’s own concrete printer (Source: Be More 3D)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Here\u2019s another \u201cfirst\u201d in our list \u2013 this time on the African continent. The honors of being the first 3D printed house in Africa goes to Bengu\u00e9rir, Morocco, for the\u00a0Solar Decathlon Africa 2019<\/a>\u00a0competition. The project was envisioned by Be More 3D, a Spanish start-up focused on low-cost sustainable housing, and was born out of a concrete 3D printer project at the\u00a0Polytechnic University of Valencia<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The 32-square-meter house was created in only 12 hours by the company\u2019s own BEM Pro 2 concrete printer. According to its CEO, the construction time could be further reduced to 8 hours by turning up the printing speed.<\/p>\n
As a happy ending to this story, the Moroccan 3D printed house eventually helped Be More 3D secure the prize for the most innovative start-up.<\/p>\n
- \n
- What:<\/strong>\u00a032-square-meter house<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2019<\/li>\n
- Where:<\/strong>\u00a0Bengu\u00e9rir,\u00a0Morocco<\/li>\n
- Who:<\/strong>\u00a0Be More 3D<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Biggest House<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/03\/93db30e61bd72066.png\")
This large house took 48 hours to print, spread over an 8-day period (Source: Technologies)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 3D printed houses don\u2019t necessarily mean small houses. That\u2019s been proven by the huge 1,900-square-foot house recently built by SQ4D. It\u2019s claimed to be the\u00a0biggest 3D printed house<\/a>\u00a0ever (yes, another record). The build process took 48 hours of print time, which was spread over an 8-day period, and required only three people on site for supervision.<\/p>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2019<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2019<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2019<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2018<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2018<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2017<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2017<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2016<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2016<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2016<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2016<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2015<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2015<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2015<\/li>\n
- When:\u00a0<\/strong>2014<\/li>\n
- Shorter construction periods:<\/strong>\u00a0With many structures printed in a matter of days, 3D printing shelters, for example, can be beneficial for victims of natural disasters.<\/li>\n