China's 3D Printed House Boom

By Diane Small

As anyone who has ever built or even renovated a house knows, building produces a lot of waste. From surplus wood and bricks to more hazardous electrical wiring, lead and asbestos, in most developed countries, building waste makes up between 10 to 15% of all landfill. Given how toxic these materials can be, this is cause for worry–even simple plasterboard is hazardous once landfilled, as its components break down and release hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas.

Of course, there is the potential to recycle many of materials, but a better solution is to create less waste in the first place, via 3D printing.

One Chinese company has done just that. WinSun Decoration Design Engineering has harnessed 3D-printing technology to build 10 one-story houses in a day — a cheaper, faster and safer alternative to more traditional construction.

The houses were built in Shanghai using four giant 3D printers, which produce a mix of cement and construction waste to construct the walls layer by layer, a process much like how a baker might ice a cake.

They may not be the most beautiful constructions in the whole world, but they are probably amongst the least wasteful–and they’re cheap, too. WinSun CEO Ma Yihe said: “Such a new type of 3D-printed structure is environment-friendly and cost-effective.”

Whilst the company’s constructions are fairly basic and of course, these images show the unfinished product–surely more beautiful architecture–and less wasteful home building–will be on the way soon.

To see more detail about China’s 3D printed house project, please click here.

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Diane Small

Senior Features Writer at Eluxe Magazine

A University of Texas journalism graduate and serious chocolate enthusiast, Diane was a sub-editor at the Houston Chronicle before falling pregnant. Today, she is the proud mom of two kids under the age of three, and freelances for Eluxe in between nappy changes and feedings.