Netherlands showcases house which is 3D printed using concrete

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Addressing a housing shortage in the Netherlands, the 3D Printed concrete house, which took 120 hours to print, is the first completed home of five for ‘Project Milestone’.

According to The Guardian, Project Milestone is a partnership with Eindhoven University of Technology and the Vesteda housing corporation.

Ms Lutz and Mr Dekkers’ new house, which is in Eindhoven, a city that markets itself as a centre of innovation, ‘is made up of 24 concrete units “printed” by a machine that squirts layer upon layer of concrete at a factory in the city before being trucked to a neighbourhood of other new homes. There, the finishing touches — including a roof — were added,’ abc.

The Guardian reported that the 3D printing method ‘involves a huge robotic arm with a nozzle that squirts out a specially formulated cement, said to have the texture of whipped cream. The cement is “printed” according to an architect’s design, adding layer upon layer to create a wall to increase its strength.’

The layers give a ribbed texture to its walls, inside and out.

According to the abc, the house complies with all Dutch construction codes, and the printing process took just 120 hours.

‘The home is the product of collaboration between city hall, Eindhoven’s Technical University and construction companies called Project Milestone,’ abc.

‘But while it is early days, the 3D printing method is seen by many within the construction industry as a way to cut costs and environmental damage by reducing the amount of cement that is used. In the Netherlands, it also provides an alternative at a time when there is a shortage of skilled bricklayers, The Guardian,