Building with 3D printing technology is sparking widespread interest in the construction industry. Besides reducing waste and our impact on the environment, it can speed up construction from weeks, or months, to days. To see how the technology can change the world around us, here are some projects that highlight bold ideas in 3D print building.
Instant Neighborhood
Community building takes on new meaning with the creation of a neighborhood of 3D printed homes in Tabasco, Mexico, aimed at tackling global homelessness. American non-profit New Story and tech company ICON built each concrete house from start to completion in 24 hours. New Story says its aim is to provide shelter for people without homes around the world.
Nested Housing
Shamballa is the idea of Italian 3D print construction company WASP. This project uses soil and straw to build a home in days that cost only 48 Euros in materials and energy. Its round designs are based on the wasp (黄蜂) nest. Each home features a laboratory with a desktop 3D printer for making furniture, artistic objects and more.
Think Schools
African island state Madagascar is hosting one of the world’s most forward-thinking school building projects. Non-profit Thinking Huts is using 3D print technology to provide schools where children have little or no access to education. Schools are built using local materials and low carbon concrete in under a week.
Concrete Steps
Researchers at the Swiss University ETH Zurich used concrete 3D printing to build the 16 metre long curved Striatus footbridge in a couple of days. The project used 500 layers of concrete and 53 hollow blocks, held in place by compression (压缩). This reduces materials by up to 70 per cent, and the entire bridge can be pulled down and recycled.
【小题1】What could be the inspiration behind the design of Nested Housing?| A．A featured laboratory. | B．A forward-thinking school. |
| C．A round wasp nest. | D．A long stone bridge. |
| A．Instant Neighborhood. | B．Concrete Steps. |
| C．Think School. | D．Nested Housing. |
| A．They use local materials. | B．They make construction faster. |
| C．They are affordable to the homeless. | D．They are high in cost. |
