3D Printed Buildings

A company in China is taking 3D printing to a whole new level. After demonstrating the viability of their process by constructing ten printed homes in Shanghai about a year ago, they recently completed a 5-story apartment building using their proprietary “ink” mixture and an enormous printer.

The latest building to be completed is an 1100-square meter villa, complete with 3D-printed ornamentation inside and out. The structure, which measures 20 feet high, 30 feet wide and 132 feet long, was prefabricated in less than 24 hours and then assembled on site.

The process uses recycled construction waste, glass fiber, steel and cement mixed with special additives. The printing spray nozzle and automatic material feeding system was developed back in 2004 and 2005. The resulting material is 50 percent lighter than traditional construction materials, self-insulating, non-polluting, and flexible yet structurally strong enough to withstand earthquakes and high winds. The company plans to build up to 100 recycling facilities around the country to supply the raw materials needed to meet demand for these new, cost-effective structures.