The Complete Guide to 3D Printed Homes in India

Author: Sarah Mariam

Today a luxury home builder company strives not to just accentuate the feel, safety, and beauty of a perfect home, but also to make more sustainable and affordable homes with the help of technology. We are talking about the latest technological concept named the 3D Printed Homes and it is creating a positive change in the construction industry today in India and many places worldwide. If you are looking forward to owning a modern sustainable home anywhere in South India, we have got you covered. With a progressive passion to build custom made homes, our collections have proven that our green home buildings and farmhouse styles are worth keeping for generations.

Homes constructed using 3D technology are already a mainstay in many developed countries. In India, this technology is paving a sustainable way for the digital generation toward home ownership. Since the growth of 3D printing technology is very faster, as soon many traditional homes will be replaced by 3D printed homes. There is a significant rise in the number of companies and architectural firms that offer 3D printed homes.

What is a 3d printed house?

The 3D printed homes use a technology known as contour crafting where the robotic arms move around on rails and print the house layer by layer. Instead of using plastic like a traditional 3D printer, the robotic arm extruder prints concrete. Construction using the robotic arm extruder is considered the most common method for large scale 3D printing which uses additive manufacturing technology.

Also, there is a second method that can be used called sand 3D printing. Sand 3D printing occurs when a large machine begins with a single layer of sandy powder. The printer then uses a binder to harden the shape of the house materials slowly.

Where can you find 3D printed house construction in India? Examples

Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions

Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions, a start-up founded by alumni of IIT Madras, has made India’s first 3D printed house which is located in Chennai. The team printed the structure using a specialty concrete that it had developed to print large scale 3D structures in short periods.

As per the report, the company has developed a Made in India tech that leverages 3D printing to make building homes faster, more sustainable, and more economical. Within four weeks, The Indian Army’s Military Engineering Services (MES) constructed two houses using 3D printing technology which is a first of its kind structure in India. Each house is built area of around 700 square feet and is situated in Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Advantages of construction 3d printing houses

3D printed homes are cheap to build. Home construction can be designed easily without commissioning an expensive architect. It is having a quicker construction time. A small 3D printed home can be built in under 24 hours, although start to finish build is typically done on waves rather than all at once. A shortened supply chain and less waste due to over-engineering make 3D construction more eco friendly. This advanced technology is helping the unique and creative design of the architects' imagination to life, providing them with infinite design possibilities.

Problems of construction 3D printing homes

Still, there are some challenges when it comes to building 3D printed houses. There are very few raw materials that can be used in a 3D printer which leads to difficulty in finding raw materials. Many of these printable materials cannot be recycled. As 3D printing is becoming more popular, there is a greater possibility for people to create fake counterfeit products. This has evident issues around copyright for the construction. Design inaccuracies may also exist in the construction if reputed companies don’t work with you. And when this 3D printing technology gets properly started, it is sure to have a negative impact on the supply of manpower.

The Future of 3D Printed Homes

Here we like to throw light on the future of such homes, How are 3d printed houses going to be viable in the future? This will be in terms of economic and sustainability aspects.

According to reports, the 3D printing Indian market is growing by 20% every year. If adopted at a larger scale, this approach could put roofs over millions of people’s heads. With its ability to create high quality, cost -effective and eco-friendly buildings 3D Printed homes can be considered the future of housing in India.

The extent of Durability of 3D printed houses in India

Do you know how durable and long-lasting the 3d printed houses in India are? That is one of the biggest highlights offered by 3D printed houses. Now you can see more custom home designer styles around you. This is because the technology uses many recycled materials and that helps to reduce the costs and the excess use of construction materials. Plus, sustainable builders who use this technology will use designs that note the climate of the area. That will help to use the optimal cement ratios leading to less wastage and better quality homes for the owners.

Reduced Cost for Materials and Construction

The 3D printing house is found to be an economically viable option, with a 78% reduction in the overall capital costs when compared to traditional homes. As less soil is used during the work phase, it represents a more sustainable construction process. Usually, traditional construction means will take months or even years for project completion. Using 3D printing technology the construction time can be reduced to a larger extent.

Homes become more Affordable with 3D Technology

Apart from this, we ought to understand that with low wastage associated with the precision laying of material, the cost can even be brought down further. In India the cost of building a 3D printed house costs ₹5-5.5 lakh, roughly 20% of the cost of standard 2BHK. 3D construction, although a relatively new technique, promises to be a reliable one. As per the studies in India, the average age of a 3D printed house is found to be 50-60 years. So using this advanced technology, we can ensure a longer life compared to the houses that are built by using conventional means. The life of 3D printed homes also depends on factors like climate, additives in the mixture, etc.