PROJECTS 37
NEW 3D PRINTED HOUSE Arup and CLS Architects unveiled 3D Housing 05 – a new 3D printed house in central Milan – as part of the Salone del Mobile design festival. Printed on-site by a portable robot, the house showcases the role 3D printing can play in reducing construction waste; it increases efficiencies during the building process and allows materials to be re-used at the end of the building’s life, rather than ending up as landfill.
the end of their lives. 3D printing technology is critical to helping our industry become far more accurate, efficient and less wasteful.” “This building represents a milestone for 3D printing applied to construction,” says Luca Stabile, Italy building practice leader at Arup. “The industry’s fast moving towards increased levels of automation. Robots are opening up a number of possibilities for realising
The construction industry is currently one
the next generation of advanced build-
Advantages of 3D-printed buildings
of the world’s biggest users of resources;
ings. Digital tools combined with new
• Sustainability: They of fer a
in the UK alone, it accounts for 60% of
technologies will enable the production
sustainable alternative to the
all raw materials consumed. The concrete
of custom-made shapes that can’t be
traditional construction pro-
3D-printed house, the first of its kind
produced otherwise. We’re pushing the
cess, reducing material waste
within the EU, can be taken apart and re-
boundaries and contributing to radical
and allowing recycled concrete
assembled elsewhere. Arup, a knowledge
innovation through new manufacturing
to be used. 3D-printed buildings
partner of the Ellen McArthur Foundation,
technologies and materials.”
can be designed to ensure that
has applied learnings from its innovative
A robot from Cybe Construction was
the components can be re-used
Circular Building, which was constructed
used to print the walls, while the roof,
in the future, according to the
out of fully re-usable components.
windows and doors were completed af-
principles of the Circular Economy.
T he one-stor ey concr ete house,
terwards. Italcementi, one of the world’s
• Flexibility: They also offer great-
located in the grand Piazza Cesare Bec-
largest cement suppliers, provided advice
er f lexibility in the building
caria, covers 100m2; it has curved walls,
for the base concrete mix used during the
shape, allowing engineers and
a living area, a bedroom, a kitchen and a
printing operations.
architects to generate more
bathroom. The project differs from many
complex structures, such as
other 3D processes in its use of a robotic
double-curved walls, at lower
manipulator, mounted on a movable base
cost. In addition, the process
for increased flexibility compared with
allows for on-site construction
fixed 3D printers. The house is made up of
with few limitations regarding
35 modules that have each been printed
site location.
in 60-90 minutes; the full house has been
• Affordability: 3D printing is less
printed in just 48 hours’ effective time.
expensive than traditional con-
The building will be moved from the square
str uc tion due to the mor e
to a new location after the festival.
efficient use of materials and
“We’re at Salone del Mobile to build
a more structured and faster
momentum,” says Guglielmo Carra, Eu-
building process.
rope materials consulting lead at Arup.
CONCRETE
MOULDS STEEL FIBREGLASS POLYURETHANE SILICONE
• Accuracy: 3D printing offers a
“We need to make a major shift in the
dir ect transf er of inf orma-
way the construction industry oper-
tion from the 3D design model
ates, away from today’s ‘make, use and
to construction operations,
dispose’ mentality. We’ve shown with
082 774 4657 Unit 8, Ken Smith Industrial Park, Rand Street, George Industria
thereby drastically reducing
this building that 3D printing technology
building inconsistencies and
is now advanced enough to take on more
potential mistakes.
complex structures and we can design buildings to be re-purposed or re-used at
PRECAST | ISSUE TWO | 2018
www.concretemoulds.co.za