A Virginia developer has constructed the first home of its kind using 3D concrete printing technology, aiming to revolutionize affordable housing.
The first-of-its-kind 3D-printed home has been unveiled in Lynchburg, Virginia, showcasing a new approach to residential construction that could reshape the housing market.
Zach Baldridge, founder and CEO of KKrane, designed and built a custom 3D concrete printer to fabricate panels for home construction. After 20 years in the construction business, Baldridge identified an opportunity to bring greater design freedom to the industry.
The three-bedroom, two-bath house sits on a 1.6-acre lot in Woods Landing and was listed at $439,000, slightly below the median sale price for Virginia homes in February, according to Redfin data.
“Trying to make construction more efficient, have more flexible design, being more creative, and trying to find a way to also bring costs down,” Baldridge told ABC 13 when describing the possibilities that 3D printing brings to home construction.
Currently, homes built with 3D-printed concrete panels are “equivalent or slightly less” in price compared to traditional “stick-built” homes. However, Baldridge anticipates that as his company grows and the printing process becomes more efficient, further price reductions could follow.
Aside from similar pricing, 3D-printed houses have other advantages such as shorter construction time and lower environmental footprint. Baldridge also pointed to their resilience, informing Central Virginia Home Magazine that “houses built this way are perfect for areas prone to earthquakes,” and can yet withstand fire threats through further modification.
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This groundbreaking method of home construction is a major step forward in the use of 3D printing technology, which only gained widespread popularity in recent years after being around for decades.
