First fully 3D-printed home in New Zealand demonstrates significant environmental and efficiency advantages over traditional construction methods.
The fully 3D-printed house — which is also the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere — has been made possible by a team of architects and builders in Auckland.
The Paremoremo home, located on a north-facing hill in the semi-rural suburb, is spread over 2,700 square feet and boasts a distinctive curved geometric surfaces that only a recent advancement in 3D-printing technology could design.
Tim Dorrington of Dorrington Atcheson Architects selected a concrete block design for its cost-effectiveness and construction efficiency. The project partnered with 3D-printed concrete specialist QOROX in what became their first full-scale residential building.
“Prior to this, it had only been used in New Zealand to create internal walls,” Dorrington explained to Home Magazine NZ. “The clients made the brave decision to be guinea pigs as we embraced the methodology to design and build New Zealand’s first 3D-printed house.”
The previously touted construction method printed 63 wall panels at an off-site facility and assembled them on-site, enhancing the building process to three times faster with 70% less waste than traditional methods, per the company’s website QOROX.
A 30% reduction in carbon emissions was achievedvs traditional concrete construction by using 80% locally sourced materials to further enhance environmental benefits. The structure is flood- and earthquake-resistant, which helps with its durability as the area is prone to disasters.
QOROX founder Wafaey Swelim highlighted additional advantages: “Our system allows the formation of wall cavities for insulation, plumbing and electrical wiring, and apply patterns and design elements directly, without the need for additional work.”
The technology utilizes thermal equilibrium without sacrificing structural resilience to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures through winter months and to satisfy building safety regulations.
The concrete 3D printing market worth $311 million in 2019 is expected to grow to $41 billion by 2027, making it a rapidly evolving construction method worth looking at.
3D-printed concrete is the next evolution in building, it’s taking place, right here, right now in New Zealand,” Swelim said.
