Architecture in printing size, the first building built with a 3d printer

Architecture in printing size

Man has always felt the need to communicate and hand down fellings and thoughts; first orally and then, due to other requirements, writing.  Finally, the centuries and the evolution have brought us to the press. Now , the ultimate evolution of this field are 3D printers whose task is adding volume to what was once flat.

Substantially the printer makes its creation from a model previuosly made by a computer, and then, thank to the “additive technique” gives volume overlapping printed cross-sectional portions to create the previously designed solid shape. Several are the objets that can be done: small accessories of daily use, mechanical parts, bone implans… up to arrive to do real homes.

The future building

The world’s first functional 3D printed building, which was inaugurated last May in Dubai, is an office space covering up to 250 square metres and will host the Dubai Future Foundation.
In just 17 days, eighteen installers and specialists have worked together to assemble the huge three-dimensional printer (over 6 meters high and 36 mt long) which gives life to functional offices, furnishing, equipments and structural elements. All these elements were realized in a special mixture composed of reinforced concrete, gypsum reinforced glass fiber  and fiber reinforced plastic. Considered the first real building of the future, it has been built at a cost of only $140,000. The  key goal is to ensure that 25 per cent of buildings in Dubai are based on 3D printing technology by 2030. The multiple benefits go from economic and material saving, excellent antisismic and structural quality and minimal heat loss to  short bulding time and unique design. What to say?  Space to the future !!