From computer-generated modeling, to the use of electric vehicles on construction sites, the way buildings are created is changing.

One area that has generated a great deal of interest over the last few years is 3D printing. It’s a process that has already transformed how we produce everything from shoes and face masks to chairs and guitars.

When it comes to the built environment, a number of projects around the world have used the technology to rapidly develop interesting and innovative structures.

Earlier this summer, for example, a 3D printer was used to build a concrete house in Antwerp, Belgium. And back in 2018, Arup and CLS Architetti, an Italian firm, were involved in a project that used a 3D printer to build a house, also made of concrete, in the city of Milan.

According to Arup, it took just 48 hours for the structure to be printed. As well as enabling a rapid construction process, the use of 3D printing also cuts waste.

Arup adds that the precision of the process “ensures every centimetre of material is used, making it significantly easier to calculate how much will be needed in the first place.”

As concerns about the sustainability of the construction sector grow, high-profile companies are taking an interest in companies that offer technologically-driven solutions for the built environment.

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