FEATURE
Could 3D printed homes fix our housing shortage?
Collaboration between humans and technology through 3D printing could be the solution we need to balance the property market’s supply and demand issues.
For many kiwis, owning a house is a significant milestone — the gravitas of which is instilled in each generation. Unfortunately, with demand currently outweighing supply, stricter lending criteria, and rising house prices, owning a home remains a pipe dream for many New Zealanders. According to a recent REINZ and Tony Alexander Report, 26% of respondents reported that the lack of listings in the market is worrying. The scarcity of options on the market often culminates in fear of missing out on properties, and in turn, some people who can afford to buy a home settle for lower quality properties.
A nationwide shortage of labour and materials The market is not only experiencing a shortage of stock in the market — but a shortage of labour in our construction sector. The productivity and efficacy of current traditional construction methods are putting pressure on the amount of time it takes to build a house or develop a section. Current construction methods are heavily reliant on manual labour and human capabilities, making it challenging for the construction industry to keep pace with demand — too many houses to be built and not enough manpower to do it. To add to that problem, we also have a shortage of materials in New Zealand. Due to COVID-19, we’re balancing supply chain disruptions and shortages of labour with increased demand as people bring forward their renovation plans and put their travel plans on the backburner. At the same time,
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The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand
residential building consents have hit a new high.
Technology is key With these factors impacting the opportunities for kiwis to purchase or build a home, construction companies are beginning to consider new building methods. One that stands out is Additive Manufacturing — also known as 3D printing. It’s a method that combines the knowledge of traditional construction with digital fabrication. An object is created by depositing materials in layers based on the digital model of the design with minimal human intervention needed. Originally, 3D printing was used for small-scale prototypes such as furniture, interior walls, built-in wardrobes and doors, which are then delivered and added to the shell structure of the house. Advances in technology have led to the creation of full-scale structures. Now, 3D printing a house is done by a manoeuvrable robotic arm that deposits the material forming the structure of the house layer by layer on-site. Innovative robotics does the majority of the labour, relying heavily on design software for precision and using advanced materials that are stronger and longer lasting than traditional building materials. This technology can provide modern, safer, and more resilient homes built to sustain harsh weather conditions, fire, and earthquakes — in a remarkably shorter amount of time. In fact, 3D printed houses only need a few days or weeks to be built and/or assembled.
