A 3D printed house in Nantes has received a lot of attention, mostly because it was printed in 54 hours, according to Tech Xplore. The windows and doors took additional time, but the printing process from start to finish was a quick transition.
A robot printer was used to print layers from the floor up to the walls.
Now, a family is about to move into the first four-bedroom 3D-printed home, consisting of two parents and their three children.
The person behind this project is Benoit Furet, a professor at Nantes University. Furet believes that in five years they will reduce the construction cost of houses by 25 percent, while still adhering to building regulations. He also believes that this cost will continue to decrease by 40 percent in 10 to 15 years.
In total, the house was 1,022 square feet and was built to curve around 100-year-old protected trees. This was a key advantage in using 3D printing when constructing the house, because there was more flexibility in the shape and it opened up a new venue for architects to get creative. The curve of the house also opened up the home’s air circulation, reducing humidity and improving thermal resistance.
Additionally, the house has an IoT system where the new residents can control the temperature and other elements via their smartphone or tablet.
Fouret said they are working on a project in the north of Paris to print 18 houses and a commercial building.
Filed Under: Materials • advanced