The first ever house has been created by a 3D-printer in Russia.
3D-printers have created a bit of a stir in the design industry. Also known as additive manufacturing, it is the process of producing a three-dimensional object controlled by a computer. It is achieved by a printer applying layers of material upon one another until the object is created. The development of 3D-printers has enabled computer designs to be perfected to precision.
However, now the first ever 3D-printed home has been produced. The handiwork of Apis Cor, an engineering firm, the house is one piece rather than a number of elements that are fabricated together. Taking one day to be printed, the printer created the walls for this 409 square foot property.
Produced in Russia at the coldest time of year, there were a number of obstacles that needed to be overcome for its successful build. The printer used concrete mixture that would only work above five degrees. This meant a sealed tent had to be erected to create the perfect conditions for it to operate in.
Once completed the house was internally sprayed to insulate the interior. A flat roof was installed, windows fitted and the whole house painted. Despite being on the rather small size for a freestanding house, the space does appear to work. There is a kitchen, bathroom, living space and even a hallway.
Whether this is a one-off gimmick or a blueprint for the future is yet to be seen. The printer is relatively small so can easily be transported to site suggesting that it could be ideal for the building of homes in remote regions or where houses are urgently needed such as refugee camps.