Robot Builds Europe's First 3D-Printed House in 48 Hours in Milan

A new 3D printed house printed on-site by a portable robot within a 48-hour timeframe has been unveiled in design capital Milan.

The 3D-printed structure, the first of its kind in Europe, can be dismantled and reassembled anywhere.

CLS Architetti said the house is designed with a "new architectural language" developed thanks to a revolutionary technology.

The construction sector is one of the world’s largest users of resources with the lowest productivity gains of any industry. Through the new “3D Housing 05”, the Italian architects as an example from their 3D print house in Milan are perhaps heeding the call for more-efficient construction technologies in taking additional steps to a more sustainable industry.

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As part of the Salone del Mobile design festival, presented by Engineering firm Arup and CLS Architects, the house in Milan demonstrates the role 3D printing can play in reducing construction waste and increase efficiency.

It also allows for materials to be reused at the end of the building’s life, as opposed to ending up in landfill, demonstrating sustainability throughout the building process.

A robot from Cybe Construction was used to print the one storey concrete walls, while the roof, windows and doors were completed afterwards. Set apart from other 3D processes this project used a robotic manipulator mounted on a portable base.

With its distinctive curved walls, the Milan house covers 100 square metres inclusive of its living area, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.

The 3D printed house is made up of 35 modules that have each been printed in 60-90 minutes, subsequently enabling the full house to be printed in just 48 hours.

In Amsterdam, robots are 3D printing a 12-metre steel pedestrian bridge that will span one of the city’s famed canals. Arup were also involved in the project with Dutch capital based start-up, MX3D and local designer Joris Laarman.

Australian company, Fastbrick Robotics pioneered a robotic technology that vastly improves the speed, accuracy, cost and waste management of the brick construction industry. With bricklaying robotics are already being put to use.

3D-printing in construction is promising. There are 3D printed concrete houses in China, a fully functioning office in Dubai and in Australia, the RMIT Architectural Robotics Lab is applying robotics to architectural design, building fabrication and construction.

Milan’s one story home is on showcase as part of the Salone del Mobile design festival. The building will be moved from the square to a new location after the festival.