Living in a 3-D printed home

Last year, 3-D printed rooms became possible (link to YouTube video). This year, 3-D printed homes were in vogue as a slew of Chinese and European construction firms led the charge. A Chinese construction firm, Winsun, 3-D printed 10 single-story homes in less than 24 hours, as shown in a video brought to attention by ArchDaily. The structure resembled a prefabricated home and consisted of individual panels measuring 10 meters by 6.6 meters.

DUS architects, a Netherlands-based firm, made a 3-D printed prototype of Canal House in Amsterdam. Closer to home, Manhattan-based Kushner Studios is building the world’s first 3-D printed estate in Gardiner, New York.

The promise of 3-D printing in constructing homes is dual: reduction of manual labor (and time required) and use of renewable or biodegradable materials in construction. For example, the Chinese construction firm used a combination of cement, construction waste, and glass fiber to make its home.

Adam Kushner, the architect behind the Manhattan project, is importing a large 3-D printer that can 3-D print homes in a single print run. The estate, which consists of a four-bedroom house, a swimming pool, and a garden, is a “vanity project,” according to him. Vanity or not, the project could push the boundaries of construction in 3-D printing and herald a major role in its future.