3D Printed Homes and Applications

3D printed homes and applications

These days, 3D printing is making some very interesting leaps into the home building realm. There are many home builders who are paving the way for this new type of construction.

Texas based homebuilder, ICON, has been creating single family homes in hopes of bringing a new architectural typology to the market. They are currently building a first-of-its-kind community of 100 plus 3D printed homes. The implications of this scale test are exciting for several reasons. Concrete printed homes save on typical material waste seen in stick frame construction, they also do not rot, or are susceptible to termites. In areas like Colorado, they can be considered for the fire resistance and durability to the elements.

Currently the most tried application for 3D homes is to “print” a single story. This application is particularly promising for multiple home communities, refugee settlements, or rebuilding after disasters. There are hybrid models for multiple story structures but involve more intensive structural components and are restricted to 3D printed first levels with framed construction for the second level. 

Home plans are created in architectural software and then translated to the machine which lays down “bead” layers of concrete. Where doors and windows are necessary, the on-site team blocks out the needed space with wood framing. From an energy efficiency standard, concrete printing walls in this way lessen the likelihood of thermal bridging.

Certain climates need different insulation values for walls of the home. With 3D printed homes, the interior and exterior bead of material can be adjusted to be closer, or further apart from each other. Once the beads are cured, the void is filled with continuous spray foam insulation. In typical home framing, creating a larger interior void would be more material costs for 2x6’s or 2x8 wood studs.

 With this new technology pairing well with BONSAI’s high performance and sustainable ethos we’d be excited to help you with your next (possible 3D printed) home!