3D Printed Community

Another Fast Company 2020 World Changing Ideas Awards winner is looking to create the world’s first 3D printed community. The project, located in southern Mexico, is scheduled for completion later this year and will house 50 families.

Each house is constructed using a 33-foot-long printer, known as Vulcan II, which dispenses a customized concrete mixture (called Lavacrete) in layers to form the walls of the home. The material is designed to flow easily but set quickly and precisely to produce a structure that is more rugged than conventional construction without the need for additional treatment or coatings. The walls for an entire house can be completed in 24 hours, cutting total construction time in half. Engineers are also looking at ways to integrate electrical and plumbing systems into the printing process, but for now that will be added later, along with the roof and windows.

The developer has partnered with a nonprofit organization to build housing in some of the poorest areas of Mexico. These homes will be donated to families, many of whom have never had indoor plumbing or electricity. Technologies like this will be instrumental in addressing the global housing crisis and the need for fast, affordable solutions.