Family moved into social housing project with 3D printed house

3D printing in construction have gained popularity over the past few years. Two years back the Yhnova project was launched, with the various stakeholders demonstrating how 3D technologies could be used to buildaffordable and sustainable housing. Now the 3D printed house in Nantes, France is inhabited: a family has just moved into the 3D printed social housing.

3D printing is increasingly seen as a viable solution in the construction sector, with initiatives aimed at demonstrating how it could become a response to the housing crisis. The Yhnova project is a good example, its main objective being to offer affordable social housing to families in Nantes. Franky Trichet, deputy mayor of Nantes explained: ” The future of the project from the point of view of the city is twofold. The first is to see if we can integrate this type of construction. The second objective for us is to see if we can apply these principles of construction for other types of public buildings – such as sports halls or communal buildings . “

Photo credits: BBC

More economical and sustainable

After its inauguration last March, the 3D printed house of 95 square meters is now inhabited by a family of 3 children and their parents. Composed of 4 rooms, it was made thanks to a 3D printing process called BatiPrint3D, developed by researchers from the University of Nantes. It uses a robotic arm 4 meters long to and guided by a laser to deposit different layers of materials: a layer of formwork, a similar material to a foam for insulation, and then a layer of a concrete mixture. Thus, a wall made with this technology is thick, insulated and durable.