Already home to numerous architectural wonders, including the world's tallest building, Dubai is set to add the world's first 3D-printed office building to its streets. It will be printed layer by layer by a 3D printer standing 20 ft (6 m) tall, with the layers to be assembled on site to produce a building covering approximately 2,000 sq ft (186 sq m) in a process that is set to take a matter of weeks.
The office building, which wouldn't look out of place in a 1970's science fiction show set in the present day, will serve as a temporary headquarters for staff of the nearby "Museum of the Future" that launched earlier this year. As such, it won't be quite as intricate as some other 3D-printed architecture we've seen, but will feature a flexible open plan to accommodate a range of uses and team sizes. It will also house a small digital fabrication facility and 3D printing exhibition space, with all interior furniture, detailing and structural components to be produced using 3D printing technology.
The project is the Museum's first major initiative and part of a partnership between Dubai and WinSun Global, which is a joint venture between Chinese 3D printing technology company WinSun and international investors. WinSun is also the company responsible for constructing 10 small houses in one day last year using a 22-ft-tall (6.6-m) 3D printer. The Museum claims the office building will be the most advanced 3D-printed structure ever built, and the first to be put to actual use.
"This building will be a testimony to the efficiency and creativity of 3D printing technology, which we believe will play a major role in reshaping construction and design sectors," said H.E Excellency Mohammed Al Gergawi, UAE Minister Of Cabinet Affairs and The Chairman of UAE National InnovationCommittee. "We aim to take advantage of this growth by becoming a global hub for innovation and 3D printing. This is the first step of many more to come."
Source: Museum of the Future
