Housing company Apis Cor is 3D printing new houses in a day
In the past building a house could take weeks, sometimes months, but new 3D printing technology is changing the paradigm
Key takeaways
- 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.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2017) 'Housing company Apis Cor is 3D printing new houses in a day', 311 Institute, 12 March. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/housing-company-apis-cor-is-3d-printing-new-houses-in-a-day/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
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.
What this means for your organisation
Speed changes housing supply.
Walls printed in under a day shorten the whole build programme. Faster delivery matters most where housing is scarce. Developers facing shortages should pilot printed structures.
Finishing dominates the cost.
Windows and doors are the most expensive components in the finished house. Printing shifts cost from structure to fit-out. Buyers should model total cost, not just the printed shell.
Disaster response is a strong use.
Rapid, cheap shelter helps after natural disasters and conflict. Speed and local materials matter more than finish in those settings. Agencies and insurers should assess printed shelter for response plans.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Where would faster, cheaper housing help our business or region?
- How does total cost compare once fit-out is included?
- Could printed shelter improve our disaster response plans?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
In the past building a house could take weeks, sometimes months, but new 3D printing technology is changing the paradigm
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- Apis Cor apis-cor.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 12 March 2017. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2017). Housing company Apis Cor is 3D printing new houses in a day. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/housing-company-apis-cor-is-3d-printing-new-houses-in-a-day/
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