The Czech Republic is preparing to break ground on its first 3D printed house next month. The stylish housing structure was designed by Michal Trpak of sculptural architectural studio Scoolpt, and will be constructed in collaboration with the Stavebni sporitelna Ceske sporitelny (Buřinka) building society. The 3D printed house, whose most distinguishing feature is that it floats, demonstrates how 3D printing technologies can be used to create housing more sustainably than traditional means.
The 3D printed house, called Prvok od Burinky (Protozoon) will begin construction in June and will measure 43 square meters. The layout will consist of three rooms: a living room with kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom. The house is also designed to be partially self-sufficient and is suitable for year-round habitation. The printed shell of the house is reportedly three times stronger than traditional concrete. And though the house is suitable for many settings, the first build will be anchored to a pontoon!
According to the house’s creators, the 3D printing construction process is only expected to take 48 hours, while the house itself should be livable within two months. Its self-sufficient and ecological features include a green roof, a recirculating shower and reservoirs for drinking, utility and sewage. Impressively, the 3D printed floating home is expected to have a lifespan of at least 100 years, no matter what the environment. When it expires, the building material can be crushed and reprinted on location.
Manufacturing on Demand
According to an analysis conducted by Buřinka, 3D printing a house can save significant time compared to conventional production methods. Specifically, a 3D printed house can be built seven times faster than a conventional brick house. From an environmental standpoint, 3D printing can also reduce construction waste significantly. In the Czech Republic, this could be critical as roughly 46% of waste production is created by the construction and demolition industries.
“Compared to conventional brick buildings, 3D printing also generates up to 20% fewer CO2 emissions, which the European Union aims to cut by 30% by 2030 (compared to 2005),” added Libor Vosicky, CEO of Burinka. “It requires only about 25 workers to print one house (forty less than usual). The prices in serial production can hit a half of the cost of a conventional passive house. The self-sufficiency delivers further operating cost savings.
“In the Czech Republic, the number of skilled employees in construction has decreased by 10% in ten years, while the number of construction contracts has increased by 45% in the same period. 3D printing can start the automation of construction production all over the Europe, reintroduce the possibility of customization and aesthetics into residential construction, as had been the case in the past.”
(Images: Prvok od Burinky)
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Author: Tess Boissonneault
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