Eliminating traditional construction waste by way of 3D-printing

3D printing was initially discovered in the 1980s and since then, visionaries from all over the world have taken this technology into the construction and engineering industries to create modern architecture that is sure to withstand a changing climate. The Joris Laarman 3D-printed stainless steel bridge in Amsterdam is one such phenomenal piece. Named MX3D Bridge, this bridge was fabricated from stainless steel rods built by robotic arms equipped with laser welding gear. It finally opened in July 2021, meeting part of the country’s challenge in becoming carbon-neutral by 2050. Beyond this phenomenal bridge, other visionaries around the world have taken to tackling the housing crises by way of 3D-printing homes. A 3D-printed two-story home with a total area of 6,888 square feet was unveiled in Dubai and holds the Guinness World Record for the largest on-site 3D printed construction. This 3D printed home is one of many in a series of 3D printing development construction occurring in Dubai, in a bid to meet the city’s vision for 2025 where at least 25% of every new building in the city will be 3D printed. Homebuilders using 3D-printing technology to fight climate change

ICON
Austin-based ICON is one of the American companies tackling the housing crises by granting local families in Tabasco, Mexico currently living in extreme poverty and unsafe living conditions 500sf homes 3D-printed homes. In partnering with a nonprofit organization, New Story, ICON is able to become a part of a growing building trend with a focus on sustainability. As of February 2022, ICON has raised a $207 million Series B extension announced in August 2021.

SQ4D
Based in Long Island, New York, SQ4D can 3D print a 1,900 square foot home in 48 hours, using high-quality sustainable materials. The home printed in New York was printed and built onsite in a span of 8 days, using less than $6,000 in materials and cutting down construction waste, and reducing labor to three people. The home was built using SQ4D’s patent-pending Autonomous Robotic Construction System (ARCS) technology, designed for construction 3D printing applications. SQ4D’s building structures are said to be mold and fire-resistant and built to withstand severe weather.

Mighty Buildings
Oakland-based Mighty Buildings has been taking 3D-printing by storm by tackling carbon-neutrality and using only sustainable materials. Mighty Building’s mission is to create beautiful, sustainable, and affordable homes. Mighty Buildings can 3D print a 350-square-foot studio additional dwelling unit (ADU) in just 24 hours—twice as fast as traditional construction with 95% fewer labor hours and 10X less waste than conventional construction. Mighty Buildings hopes to speed up its roadmap to carbon neutrality by building high-throughput, sustainable micro-factories, forming strategic supply-chain partnerships, accelerating “blue skies” technology research, and developing new composite materials produced from recycled or bio-based feedstock. In partnering with Palari Group and Modly, Mighty Buildings is set to become part of a global phenomenon and the solution to tackling carbon-neutrality and the current housing shortage.

Our contribution to green building

Caring about the future of our earth is not a simple feat. With nearly 8 billion people on this planet, we must contribute to improving the earth’s balance for future generations to continue thriving. As Al Gore notably stated, “…the emergent capabilities bursting forth from the revolutionary advances in the life sciences are about to make us the principal agent of evolution.” As community developers, we feel it is our responsibility to meet carbon-neutral goals required by the state of California. We pride ourselves in building relationships with innovative companies like Mighty Buildings who also pride themselves in using high-quality, sustainable materials that contribute to Earth’s overall wellbeing. Beyond using sustainable materials in the manufacturing process, the manufactured home will be delivered and installed using energy-efficient equipment. So, besides being built with extremely durable, fire-resistant materials, there are not many differences between owning a 3D printed home versus another home, unless you are also considering:

• An even more unique, cooler home.
• Being a part of the sustainable builds club.
• Saving thousands of dollars over time
• Bragging rights

With 3D-printing on the rise and the need for more housing, and an increasing amount of Baby Boomers taking in their elderly parents to care for since the pandemic, ADUs are now easier than ever to obtain thanks to Mighty Buildings’ innovative modern designs. Taking responsibility is the first step towards making a change, and at Modly, we are proud to be a part of changing history.