WHY THIS MATTERS IN BRIEF
- In the past building a house could take weeks, sometimes months, but new 3D printing technology is changing the paradigm
If you’re looking to move but can’t find the house of your dreams, you may be able to just print one out for yourself. In fact, in some places, such as San Francisco that’s already possible, thanks to new 3D printing startup Apis Cor, who’ve come up with an exceedingly affordable solution that lets them 3D print concrete walled houses in under a day.
Apis Cor recently used its massive 3D printer to lay down concrete walls on a test home at a site in Russia, where it has a business partner, printing out “cosy” but liveable 400 square foot houses.
The machine, which looks more like a small crane than a conventional 3D printer, spits out layer upon layer of a concrete mixture that the company says can last for 175 years. After printing out the walls, the printer’s removed, and a group of contractors install insulation, windows, appliances, and a roof.
The company says that it can build and furnish these small houses for a cost of about $10,000 with the windows and doors being by far the most expensive components.
In the future these houses could be used to help quickly re-house people affected by natural disasters, and war, and one day soon the company hopes to bring the technology back to its home town where an influx of technology workers in recent years has created a housing shortage.
