The main advantage of using 3D printing in the construction industry is faster construction with savings in production costs on material waste. Producing buildings layer by layer and with lattice structures inside allows for a considerable cost reduction. Not only that, but they are also capable of using recycled materials. 3D printing allows architects and designers to build complex designs that are otherwise labour-intensive and expensive. With 3D concrete printing, one can achieve any shape with ease. This allows the designers to be more creative in the construction space. In growing regard to modern technology, Habitat for Humanity has built its own 3D-printed homes. The 3D-printed home project of Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg has received the Innovation Project of the Year Award from the Home Builders Association of Virginia. This is Habitat’s first foray into the 3D printing sphere.
Habitat for Humanity Peninsula partnered with Alquist, a 3D printing home construction company, to give a mom and her 13-year-old son a dream home. Stringfield, the owner of the house, was able to purchase the house as a member of Habitat for Humanity’s programme after providing at least 300 hours of volunteer work known as “sweat equity”.
Janet V. Green, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg, expressed gratitude for the recognition for the James City County project, which she said “adds another tool enabling us to make Habitat homes more affordable to build.”
The home was the first-ever completed Habitat house in the United States using the 3d printing technology.
Features of the 3d printed home;
- The 1,200-square-foot house is made of concrete
- The exterior walls are made of concrete put together by a large on-site printer
- It took approximately 28 hours for the walls to be completed,
- It comes with three bedrooms and two full bathrooms.
- The home is EarthCraft certified
- The exterior was constructed in just 28 hours using an Alquist 3D printer
Concrete used in the home can retain heat better than many other materials and it is resistant against natural disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes find an ideal home here.
Alquist’s chief executive officer, Zachary Mannheimer, called the award “wonderful and a real honor.” The award honours a Home Builders Association of Virginia member for forward-thinking homebuilding. “This recognition is a boon for the entire 3D industry,” Mannheimer said. “There are fewer than 15 such homes across the country right now.” This project is at the forefront of the concept of 3D homes. “
The recent emergence of building information modeling (BIM), in particular, may facilitate greater use of 3D printing. Construction. 3D printing can enable faster and more precise construction of complex or bespoke items, as well as lower labour costs and waste production. Affordable housing is one of the world’s greatest needs, and 3D printing might be the answer to all those problems.
