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UNSW Sydney is partnering with Luyten 3D to develop a 3D print system, both the hard and software, to build houses faster and cheaper using local materials. The project has received $2.9 million from the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Projects Grants program.

Portable 3D concrete printers are being developed to increase construction efficiency and reduce waste and other costs, particularly when building in remote parts of Australia.

Arts, Design & Architecture Associate Professor M. Hank Haeusler, ARC Centre director, is involved in the project which builds on collaborations with Luyten over the past several years, looking to develop affordable and sustainable construction technologies in response to the challenges faced by Australia’s mining sector and remote communities in building suitable housing.

Building in remote areas is traditionally very expensive and logistically challenging, in terms of both materials and labour. The ability to transport 3D printers to remote locations and construct using digital fabrication technology reduces labour requirements, energy consumption and the environmental impact associated with construction, including a 60 per cent reduction in waste.

“The project strongly aligns with the objectives of the ARC Industry Transformation Training Centre for Next-Gen Architectural Manufacturing, which aims to address Australia’s housing crisis through sustainable and digital approaches,” says A/Prof. Haeusler.

“What excites me the most is that through the CRC-P project, we can extend our efforts to remote and very remote communities, who face additional financial challenges in affording housing due to increased costs of material and labour transportation over vast distances in Australia. Our innovative approach of bringing the factory to the construction site while utilising locally sourced materials will effectively tackle these issues, enabling the construction of custom-designed homes at a more affordable price.”

Luyten 3D cofounder and global CEO, Ahmed Mahil, echoes these sentiments, “We can transport our 3D printers to locations in remote areas and print using local materials. We are able to create a mix of terracrete, rather than concrete, utilising local ingredients. Not only is this more cost effective, it is also more sustainable as terracrete requires less water than concrete.

“The CRC-P grant will provide the necessary funding to ensure we have the capability and resources to deliver life-changing houses for communities in remote parts of the country that are affordable, durable and aesthetically compatible with their surrounds.”

Source: UNSW Sydney