It was only a matter of time before 3D printing expanded from food, life-saving implants and underwear to something much larger and more complex. Work is under way on a full-scale house, a proof-of-concept project that is set to be completed in three years.
The house, which is located in Amsterdam, is the work of Dus Architects, which is using an industrial-sized KamerMaker 3D printer to create the plastic components that form the buiding’s walls, floors and furniture. A bioplastic mix made from plant oil ad microfibres is the material used to print the parts. When completed the house will will contain thirteen rooms, all supported and held together by a series of lightweight concrete supports and insulation.
“We’re still perfecting the technology,” Dus Architect’s Hedwig Heinsman told the Guardian. “We will continue to test over the next three years, as the technology evolves… It’s an experiment. We called it the Room Maker, but it’s also a conversation maker.”
If this project is a success then it could radically change the way houses and buildings are built. In theory 3D printed buildings could be recycled when they were no longer needed, while construction itself would mean less waste and transportation costs.
A 3 meter-high sample corner weighing 180kg is the result of just three weeks work. As each part is printed, they will be stacked together Lego-style.
“This could revolutionize how we make our cities,” says Heinsman. “This is only the beginning, but there could be endless possibilities, from printing functional solutions locally in slums and disaster areas, to high-end hotel rooms that are individually customized and printed in marble dust.”
You can see the plans in more detail and photos of the construction site on 3D Print Canal House’s website.
[Image via 3D Print Canal House]
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