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, 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.

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.

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.

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.

Reducing costs and carbon footprint

The economic benefit of 3D printing is significant — it can reduce the overall capital costs by almost 30% compared to traditional construction methods (depending on the complexity of the design). With the integration of other trades and services already coordinated with the structural design, this technology can lessen the time spent on-site, thus, reducing labour costs.

3D printing also has crucial environmentallyfriendly attributes — reducing waste and carbon footprint, using recyclable materials and less energy. 3D printing only uses the necessary amount to make the structure by adding material instead of subtracting it from a block of material and leaving excess material as waste.

The turning point

Most major cities in the world are faced with the same need to build more houses, more efficiently. Countless innovators have found themselves drawn by the idea of being able to print a structure and have spent years trying to scale the technology. But, for all their efforts, 3D printing has

proven to be difficult and many impressive prototypes have struggled to become viable for mass production.

However, things have taken a massive step forward in the United States. In Texas, a collaboration between home builder company ICON and construction technology company Lennar, has committed to building the largest neighbourhood of 3D printed homes in America. They have started to build houses that are 1,000 to 2,000 square feet and range from two to four bedrooms — with flexible and functional floor plans and a minimalist architectural aesthetic.

We’re beginning to see other countries implement 3D printed homes, including Canada, Netherlands and Dubai. In fact, Dubai aims to use this technology to print a quarter of its new buildings by 2030.

This advancement in technology already exists in New Zealand. We have plenty of companies that offer small-scale 3D printing services to support other industries — but, we also have companies like Qorox that offer full-scale printing of commercial and residential properties.

Many people are unaware that there are other building methods available for them to choose from. As this method continues to advance in other countries, it’s only a matter of time until it is integrated into our solution to the current shortage of housing. Then, what was once a dream may suddenly become a possibility for kiwis wanting to own their own home.

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.