In line with Dubai’s mission to embrace 3D printing into construction projects, the Emirates has just grabbed another world record for creating the first two-storey 3D printed building.
After more than a year of testing and tinkering, the property in Warsan has been unveiled and given its deserved record. Standing at 9.5 metres tall with an area of 640 square metres, it is the largest 3D printed building to date. Even more impressively, it was built with only 15 people.
“This project is a major turning point in the construction sector,” said Dawoud Al Hajri, Dubai Municipality director general. “3D printing technologies in construction will increase the speed of execution and [lead to the] completion of buildings in record time.” according to The National.
“This will reduce construction costs and contribute to the development of solutions to demographic challenges by reducing the number of construction workers.”
The feat was achieved by laying a fluid across a path calculated by a computer. These fluids rapidly harden to form a solid structure. These solid structures are continuously build up on, adding more and more layers of fluid mapped out by a computer. This happens over and over till the layered solids form walls, ceilings and floors.
This is not the first 3D printed property in Dubai however, with Emaar Properties recently unveiling its idea for a residential complex of 3D printed townhouses, spanning 30,000 square metres across a 4km boulevard. The push to utilise the tech comes as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai announced three years ago his vision for Dubai. His Highness opened an office in the emirates for 3D printing development.
“This two-storey building has been designed and executed with a number of spaces that can be used as rooms or offices,” said Hajri at an opening event to discuss the project in Warsan.
“The walls are printed directly from the printer, unlike the traditional method of construction, which depends on the work of tightening wooden pieces with nuts and bolts, reinforcement and pouring of concrete and making bricks.”
Dubai’s new record-shattering building is hailed as producing 60% less waste than conventional construction and proof of 3D printing as a method to produce complex buildings.