The technology behind 3D printing is probably older than you’d think, but only because recent advancements in the field have made it a viable commercial venture. These days, you can 3D print just about anything. From small tools (like hinges and screws), to games, home decor, art, and even prosthetic limbs and cars, if you can dream it, you can print it.
Some companies are even 3D printing entire houses, which could have major implications for society as well as help alleviate housing crises around the world. Besides being more customizable and sustainable than traditional housing, 3D-printed houses are cheaper and can be built more quickly (sometimes in just a few hours), providing much needed housing alternatives in lower-income areas or areas impacted by natural disasters.
3D-printed buildings also just look really cool. Layering hundreds and thousands of rows or concrete or bio-plastics together to create strong supporting walls that provide shelter and insulation, 3D-printed houses are not only challenging what we think of when we think of buildings — but how we create them. Here are just a few of our favorite 3D-printed homes.
Photo: ModEco Development LLC
