14Trees Announces the Construction of 10 Kenyan 3D Printed Houses in 10 weeks

In the world today, many countries have entered a sustainable phase of aging. This means that life expectancy is increasing year after year, and the elderly population continues to grow. In contrast, some regions are experiencing a population explosion. This is particularly true in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the United Nations, the population of Africa is expected to rise to 4.5 billion in 2100, compared to 800 million in 2000. They also added that about one in two humans born by 2050 will be born in Africa.

Logically, an increase in population requires an increase in the number of houses to be built. In order for everyone to have a roof over their heads, building houses quickly is essential. This is why 3D printing can be the solution to the housing crisis. Indeed, this technology is now being used more and more in the construction sector. Less than two years ago, 14Trees, a joint venture between Holcim, a major player in sustainable construction, and British International Investment (the UK government’s investor, which supports schemes in developing countries), announced Mvule Gardens, the project to build 52 3D printed homes in Kenya. After starting the manufacturing of the homes in October 2022, it has reportedly completed phase 1, which is the 3D printing of the walls of 10 houses in Kilifi. In total, the manufacturing of the housing structure will have taken 10 weeks, using only one 3D printer. In terms of size, the houses range from 56 m2 to 76 m2, and vary between 2 and 3 bedrooms per home.

COBOD’s 3D printer is used to manufacture houses

More Affordable and Environmentally Friendly Homes

As expected when the project was announced, 14Trees is using 3D printing technology from COBOD, a manufacturer of 3D home printers. The joint venture uses the BOD2 solution. According to François Perrot, 14Trees’ CEO, this manufacturing process has several advantages. “With 3D printing, you can solve two problems at once. You can build faster and with better cost efficiency, which will help make affordable housing a reality for the majority. In addition, you can build with less materials, which preserves the resources of the planet for future generations.“