Eindhoven, the Netherlands, looks poised to become something of a 3D-printed architecture boom town. Following the construction of a 3D-printed bridge in the city, a total of five rental homes made using the cutting edge tech are now planned too, courtesy of a collaboration between the Technical University of Eindhoven and several firms.
We've seen quite a few 3D-printed homes over the years, including models by Apis Core, Arup and CLS Architetti, and New Story, but this project, named Project Milestone, is the first we know of that's specifically being built for people to live in, rather than to serve as a prototype or research tool. It will be developed over the next five years and involve contractor Van Wijnen, real estate manager Vesteda, materials firm Saint Gobain-Weber Beamix and engineers Witteveen+Bos.
The unusual-looking homes are envisioned as large stones scattered in a field. The first house built will be a single story home with a total floorspace of 95 sq m (1,022 sq ft) divided into a living room, kitchen, two bedrooms, a toilet, bathroom, and a storeroom. The next four homes will be relatively complex, two story units with terraces. The idea is that following the completion of the first model, lessons will be learned on how to speed up the process for those that follow.
The construction process will be similar to other 3D-printed architecture projects we've seen and involve a large 3D printing machine extruding a cement mixture out of a nozzle in layers to build up a structure (though like the 3D-printed bridge, steel wire may also be used for reinforcement).
Once the team has the structure ready, it will then be transported to the site in sections for assembly, and followed by human worker finishing off the home with windows, wiring, a roof, etc. However, the plan is for the fifth and final house to be printed on-site with a transportable 3D printer.
Construction of the first house is due to begin this year and it should be ready for occupation in early 2019. The remaining homes will eventually follow. The actual rental cost of the 3D-printed homes hasn't been revealed, but a Technical University of Eindhoven representative told us that rates will be affordable.
Check out the video below for more information on Project Milestone.
Sources: 3D Printed House, Technical University of Eindhoven