DESIGN OF THE TIMES / WHAT IS 3D PRINTED CONCRETE? REPOSTED BY REQUEST

Compared with traditional methods, 3D concrete printing results in little to no wastage of resources, as no framework is required during the building process. 

Simply put, 3D printed concrete is a special mix of concrete, specifically prepared to flow with ease through the nozzle of the printing equipment. The structures built with 3D printed concrete are created on the fundamentals of layering, with each layer deposited on a previous layer of pumped concrete. This technique is repeated until the preferred structure emerges. 

Eliminating the need for casting concrete into molds or framework, 3DCP is a cost-effective building method. The curing time of such concrete can be as low as three days, and complete structures can be constructed within hours; making it a relatively quicker and cheaper alternative to conventional construction methods. 

The ingredients of the concrete mix are similar to those found in other concrete mixtures: water, cement, and aggregates like sand or stone. The success of the recipe lies in the texture and consistency itself. A workable consistency lowers the chances of pressure buildup that can block the nozzle or damage the printing equipment. Hence, for building purposes, the consistency is kept similar to that of aerated dough. 

According to a previous study, almost 80% of the total waste in the world is created by the construction industry as it relies on conventional building techniques that require formwork. Compared to traditional methods, 3D concrete printing results in little to no wastage of resources, as no framework is required during the building process. The process also excludes the need for intensive labor – what’s more, complex geometric structures can be created within a tight schedule. Safe to say, 3D concrete printing offers endless potential for efficiently building bridges, houses, apartment complexes, and even barracks in active war zones--By Specifyconcrete.org

NEW 3D PRINTED CONCRETE HOME IN NETHERLANDS via CNN.

Elize Lutz, 71 and Harrie Dekkers, 67 have been given the digital key to the gray, boulder-shaped building in the Bosrijk neighborhood of Eindhoven, in the southern Netherlands. Project innovators call it the world's first commercial housing project based on 3D-concrete printing. 

The single-story home has more than 1,000 square feet of floor area, with a spacious living room and two bedrooms. Vesteda, a real estate investment firm will rent out the five homes. Homes were designed to resemble a boulder to fit into the surrounding landscape. 

The house is the first in a series of five from Project Milestone, a joint construction and innovation project from Eindhoven University of Technology, the local municipality, real estate investor Vesteda and three sector specialists: construction company Van Wijnen, building materials maker Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix and engineer Witteveen+Bos. 

The Dutch couple replied to an advertisement seeking tenants for the new 5-home project.  They will live there for six months.