Editor’s Note
The evolution of building materials, from mud and brick to cement and wood, has taken a revolutionary turn with the advent of 3D printing technology. This article explores how the same printers once used for documents are now constructing entire buildings, marking a significant leap in architectural innovation and construction efficiency.
Typically, stone, bricks, cement, and wood are used to build houses. In the past, houses were made of mud, but due to their lack of strength, other materials started being used. Today, technological advancement has reached a point where people have started using printers to build houses. The same 3D printers we used to print our homework are now being used to construct tall buildings.
Recently, pictures of the world’s tallest building made with the help of a 3D printer went viral on social media. This building is located in the village of Mulegns, Switzerland, which has a population of 11 people, and is named Tor Alva or the White Tower. It was built collaboratively by researchers from ETH Zurich and Fundaziun Origen. Tor Alva is 30 meters high and has 32 separate pillars, which are connected by giant screws and steel cables.
Tecla is a prototype building made from soil, constructed using a 3D printer. Its first model was designed by the Italian architecture studio Mario Cucinella Architects (MCA) and was constructed by 3D printing experts WASP by April 2021. This house features 2 domes, spanning approximately 60 square meters. A large window is installed on the roof of each dome, allowing light to enter inside.
Houben/Van Mierlo Architects created a society in Bosrijk, Netherlands, named Project Milestone. The company’s goal was to become the world’s first and Europe’s first habitable 3D-printed rental property. It was developed as part of a research project in collaboration with Eindhoven University of Technology. This society has a total of 5 houses, and people have already started living in one of them.
Casa Covida is a sustainable house built with a 3D printer. It was designed by a company named Emerging Objects in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. This house is built by joining 3 cylindrical segments or domed structures, so that multiple people can live together in it. The walls of Casa Covida are made using sand, soil, and water. The house was built using a 3-axis selective compliance articulated robot arm.
Curve Appeal is the world’s first freeform 3D-printed house, constructed in Chattanooga, Tennessee. 3D-printed plastic and carbon-fiber panels were used to build it. This house is more beautiful than all other houses built by printing because its design is sleek, curved, and unique. Its walls are made smooth, causing them to shine when light falls on them.