Since the early days of construction 3D printing, there has been a vision to use the technology as a more cost-effective alternative to conventional construction methods to facilitate the creation of affordable housing. Now, we are seeing that vision start to be realized, with a number of 3D printing-based social housing projects breaking ground around the world.
One of the main reasons that construction firms, developers and social housing groups have been interested in construction 3D printing is that it is far more affordable than conventional construction process. This cost advantage is owed to a few different factors. For one, construction 3D printers are highly automated, meaning that the building process requires significantly less labor than standard construction projects. To put a number on it, research has found that construction 3DP can reduce labor costs by 60%, in large part due to the fact that there is no need for formwork (itself a cost driver for projects that use concrete casting).
Concrete 3D printing has also proven to be significantly faster than conventional building methods, reducing build times by as much as 70%. This speed is thanks to streamlined supply chains and building processes. Finally, construction 3D printing has been shown to reduce material waste by as much as 60%, which helps both the project’s the bottom line and the overall sustainability of building.
Of course, the technology is still niche, but the progress made in the past couple years alone is highly promising, particularly when it comes to addressing housing shortages and a need for affordable homes. In the rest of this article, we’ll highlight some of the groundbreaking social housing projects we’ve been following in this segment.
Social housing in Lünen
In 2023, German firm PERI 3D Construction broke ground on Europe’s first publicly funded 3D printed housing development. The social housing project, based in Lünen, has since been completed, and this month the first tenants moved in. The three-story build consists of six apartments (two on each floor), spanning between 670 and 890 square feet. The construction of the livable structure was somewhat hybrid: the first two stories were 3D printed by PERI using a COBOD 3D printer, while the third floor was built using timber and cladding for the façade. The foundation of the house, as well as the base and filigree slabs, were made using traditional methods.
According to German press, the printing process took 118 hours, and the multi-family house took 1.5 years to complete. In total, the housing
Ireland’s first 3DP social housing
In Grange Close, Ireland, construction 3D printing specialist Harcourt Technologies Ltd (HTL.tech) recently completed three social housing units. The development has been recognized as Europe’s first social housing project that is compliant with the ISO/ASTM 52939:2023 additive manufacturing standard. The standard was established to ensure that 3D printed homes meet the same standards as those made using conventional construction processes and is key to making 3D printing a more standardized, accepted production method.
Manufacturing on Demand
The three apartments, each measuring 1,184 square feet, were built using COBOD’s BOD2 3D printer. The entire construction process reportedly only took 132 working days—35% faster than if they had been built traditionally. Notably, the buildings integrate a load-bearing wall system that features two concrete walls with a cavity between them, which eliminated the need for steel reinforcement. “HTL.tech is extremely proud to be the first in Europe to build a structure compliant with the I.S. EN ISO/ASTM 52939:2023 standard,” said Justin Kinsella, Director of HTL.tech. “The COBOD BOD2 3D printer was crucial in completing the Grange Close Social Housing Scheme 35% faster than traditional methods. This accomplishment sets new industry benchmarks and offers a sustainable, accelerated approach to housing construction.”
Dubbo 3DP housing in progress
Another recent 3D printed social housing project comes from Australia, where an aboriginal-led organization is using construction 3D printing to establish social housing in Dubbo. The project, which was announced in summer 2024, is supported by the government of New South Wales and has brought on local companies like Contour3D, Crete-Tech Australia and Ash Group Holdings. As per an update issued last month, the construction is well underway, with the trusses of the roof for a duplex recently installed on the 3D printed frame.
When complete (a process expected to take just 16 weeks), the social housing development will consist of a number of two-bedroom duplexes. These homes will be offered to local residents through the Aboriginal Housing Office. Contour3D, whose construction 3D printing technology is integral to the project, has also worked on other developments in Australia, including the country’s first 3D printed one-bedroom home to be granted a full occupation certificate.
Homes for the homeless in Austin, TX
Though this initiative is not technically social housing, it feels worth mentioning in the context of affordable housing solutions. Mobile Loaves & Fishes, a non-profit based in Austin, Texas that focuses on supporting the local homeless community, has partnered with construction 3DP firm ICON to build a large number of homes in its Community First! Village.
The village is actually a neighborhood being built just outside of Austin that eventually aims to house 1,800 (formerly) homeless people. As per the latest announcement, ICON is slated to construct 100 more homes in the community. This follows an ongoing partnership between the company and Mobile Loaves & Fishes, which saw Icon build 17 homes and facilities using its construction 3D printing technology. ICON, which recently disclosed its plans to layoff 114 workers (still unclear if this downsize will effect its work at the Community First! Village), has also worked on other housing projects, including 100 affordable 3D printed homes at Wolf Ranch in Georgetown, Texas.
While it may seem a bit soon to call 3D printed social housing a trend, it is highly encouraging to see projects taking off in many corners of the world.
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First tenants move into 3D printed housing in Lünen, Germany: We first wrote about the housing project when it was announced and now, one-and-a-half years later, we are heartened to see that it has been completed successfully. The building process, which brought on construction 3D printing specialist PERI 3D Construction, relied on a combination of additive manufacturing and more conventional construction methods. This hybrid approach was in part due to the fact that the building is three stories tall: while the first two stories were constructed using a COBOD 3D printer, the third story was made using timber and cladding. Additionally, the apartment building integrates a conventional foundation and filigree slabs.
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Author: Tess Boissonneault
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