Posts tagged: ArchitectureConstruction 3D PrintingSustainability

While most 3D printed construction projects we cover rely on cement-based materials to build structures layer by layer, a Dutch company is proposing an alternative method that uses bio-based composites to print compact homes and office spaces. The company, Silva.builders, recently erected its first official build: a 3D printed break shelter for Qbuzz bus drivers in the town of Oosterwolde, southwest of Groningen.

In the construction sector, 3D printing has been touted as a promising solution to building low-cost and more sustainable housing. Based on this premise, 3D printing construction specialist ICON launched Initiative 99 back in 2023, a contest that invited all manner of designers and architects to come up with 3D printed home designs that could be built for $99,000 or less. JK3D, the design studio founded by artist and 3D printing expert Julia Koerner, was awarded Honorable Mention in the contest for its Cactus Homes concept.

Spanning 8,000 hectares, the Parc de Collserola in Barcelona is a beautiful place to be immersed in nature, get some exercise and experience the cutting edge of 3D printed construction. That’s right, the Catalonian park is home to a 3D Printed Earth Forest Campus, which features a series of architectural structures 3D printed from earth and demonstrates alternative and more sustainable construction methods. The campus is the work of the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), which has leveraged WASP’s large-format 3D printing technology to create the 3D printed buildings.

The Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), a state-owned institution that works alongside partners in industry, academia and the public sector, has a number of innovative projects under its belt, including an initiative to explore the use of recycled water for irrigation, and an exploration of certifying AI models. The organization is also very active in the area of additive manufacturing research, often exploring the use of the technology to meet sustainability goals. This is very much the case in RISE’s ongoing E3D project, which is exploring the integration of 3D printed concrete into building façades to improve efficiency and sustainability in the Swedish construction industry.

In an innovative step towards sustainable living and modern architectural design, the Zephyr House project – by Kalbod Design Studio, part of the Kalbod Construction Group – has made significant strides in integrating advanced technology such as 3D printing with traditional architectural elements, according to Amazing Architecture. This initiative, which is expected to materialize at some point in the future, aims to address the need for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly housing solutions in today’s rapidly changing world.

American architecture studio Hannah has built an eco-friendly off-the-grid cabin in Upstate New York using a combination of 3D printed concrete and infested ash wood. The small structure, called Ashen Cabin, demonstrates the potential of using both types of materials to produce sustainable structures.

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.

Architects Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello, founders of the Emerging Objects studio, are not known for shying away from ambitious work. Their most recent project proves that once again. The partners have 3D printed four structures made from a mud-based material which are inspired by the historical Rio Grande river.