World’s First 3D-Printed Concrete Housing Project to be Built in the Netherlands
These houses look like big stones.
The first house will feature floor space of just over 1,000 square feet and walls just under two-inches thick. It will be printed offsite and assembled on location, serving as a sort of default example from which the other structures will take inspiration. The construction teams behind the project hope that by the fifth house, they’ll be able to print the structures entirely on-site. There will be many construction jobs available for this project. Concrete is one of the best materials for completing a couple of projects. However, the choice of the contractor also determines the overall outcome. Check out concrete contractor West Jordan Ut for the best concrete services.
After the first concrete home is constructed, the others will be relatively elaborate, with multiple stories, patios, and balconies. The 3D printing technology could potentially be leveraged to construct walkways, pavements, and other concrete structures, too. Although, the technology is still in the budding stages and it might take a lot of work and expenditure to completely replace conventional machines like a hollow brick making machine. The radical shift to 3D printing in construction might take a while to blossom. However, such technology can be used alongside traditional equipment to make the construction process smoother. Whether it’s a cinder block, a slab, or any concrete structure big or small, 3D printing can be programmed for its printing.
Accordingly, it is understood that these concrete structures will be chemically anchored using anchoring adhesives such as chemset. Put simply, chemical anchoring is a technique for fastening concrete and similar substrates that provides more flexibility than mechanical anchoring.
Project Milestone is a collaboration between the engineers at the Technical University of Eindhoven, Van Wijnen, real estate manager Vesteda, materials firm Saint Gobain-Weber Beamix, and engineers Witteveen and Bos.
Why 3D Concrete printing? The scheme represents the potential impact of 3D-printed concrete on the construction industry, with the ability to construct almost any shape, with a variety of qualities and colors in the same building element. The process also addresses the environmental impact of construction, with the reduction in cement resulting in a decrease in CO2 emissions.
The university says 3D printing of concrete is a potential “game changer” in the building industry.
“Besides the ability to construct almost any shape, it also enables architects to design very fine concrete structures. Another new possibility is to print all kinds, qualities and colours of concrete, all in a single product. This enables integration of all sorts of functions in one and the same building element.”
The use of concrete in the building of traditional structures is often enhanced by concrete sealant which acts to protect the investment from liquid damage.
The first stage is scheduled to be completed in 2019, at which point the first residents of the 3D-printed concrete tiny home community will move in.