At its best, 3D-printed construction is a subject that can enthrall the brightest and most inventive minds to dream of redefining what it means to build a house, building or other structure. The time it takes to construct, the material used, and the new levels of automation are inspiring.
And who among us does not want to embrace a present that seems more like the future?
There are groups spread out all over the world who profess to have the answer. Danish-based COBOD is one example that comes to mind. Another is a new dynamic duofrom the Czech Republic. They call themselves Prvok. They 3D printed a 43-square-meter floating home.
One member of Prvok is a sculptor named Michal Trpak. The other is named Stavebni Sporitelna Ceske Sporitelny, and he himself is a member of the Erste Group.
Like many houses, the Prvok house has a kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedroom. But this one’s 3D printed and anchored on a floating pontoon. It is a houseboat without the boat.
There are some interesting green technologies aboard the floating 3D-printed domicile, including recirculated water, a green roof and a reservoir for drinking water and sewage.
Bottom Line
The house was built in one-seventh of the time needed to build a conventional house of comparable size. The Scoolpt robotic arm 3D prints cement layer by layer at a speed of 15cm per second. Overall, the duo claims that their proprietary process generates one-fifth less CO2.
The concrete mixture is blended with nano-polypropylene fibers, a setting accelerator, and plasticizers. The sustainable features of the 3D-printed floating house allow it to be continuously used year round.