3D printing has come a long way in the past decade, and many industries have started to explore its potential for innovation. One area that has shown a lot of interest in 3D printing technologies is the construction industry, with many companies developing and experimenting with concrete 3D printers.
You’ve probably seen a news report about a 3D printed house somewhere, but the question remains: can you buy a 3D printed house in 2023?
Let’s take a look at some examples and dive into the 3D printed housing market!
The State of 3D Printed Houses
Today, the number of 3D printed houses available for purchase is relatively small. This is due to a variety of reasons, mostly due to the fact that the technology is still in its early stages, and many companies are still testing and refining their processes, materials, and methods.
There are also many regulatory and legal obstacles that need to be overcome before 3D printed houses can become widely available for individuals.
Yet many experts believe that 3D printing processes in the construction industry will continue to grow in the coming years and that we should see more standing 3D printed houses available for purchase.
We selected a few notable examples of 3D printed houses that are or were for sale at some point, as they should give an idea of what’s achievable and what the price points may look like in the future.
SQ4D
One of the most remarkable examples is the 3D printed house by SQ4D listed for sale in Riverhead, New York. The house was built using SQ4D’s proprietary 3D printing technology and is claimed to be the first permitted 3D printed house for sale.
This is a 1,407-square-foot, one-story house with three bedrooms and two full bathrooms. This property was listed for $299,999 in February 2021 but it’s currently off-market.
However, don’t worry if you’re not the lucky owner or you didn’t get a chance to make an offer: SQ4D has already finished building another house for sale, this time in Islandia, NY. The house has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a garage.
At the time of writing, there is no news on when it’ll be available for sale or if it’s meant to work as a prototype of what can be presented to the market in the future, but it’s worth bookmarking in case you want to expand your real estate portfolio.
Habitat for Humanity
Another notable project in 3D printed housing is the partnership between Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg and Alquist. The first is a non-profit organization that aims to provide affordable housing to low-income families, and the second is a construction 3D printing company.
Their first 3D printed house was delivered in Williamsburg, Virginia, back in December 2021, featuring three bedrooms and two full bathrooms. The house was purchased via the Habitat Homebuyer Program, and it’s now home to April Stringfield and her son.
There are two more 3D printed houses on the way, this time in Newport News, Virginia. The finished houses are expected to be completed by March 2023, although nothing’s been confirmed at time of writing.
East 17th Street Residences
The East 17th Street Residences is a project by 3Strands real estate developer and Icon construction 3D printing company to, well, 3D print houses in Austin, Texas.
A total of four houses were built using Icon’s proprietary 3D printing technology, ranging from two to four bedrooms and 1,000 to 2,000 square feet. They were designed by a local architecture firm to be highly energy efficient with a modern look.
The four houses are already sold, but you can find one or two short-term rentals available at Airbnb if you want to try them out!
However, if you’re looking to buy a 3D printed house in Austin, a new project called Genesis Collection, co-designed with the notorious Bjarke Ingels Group, is set to build a 100-house community. Reservations began in 2023.
Mighty Quatro
This next project by Mighty Buildings, an Oakland-based construction company, is more than a 3D printed house. The 1,171-square-foot house, known as Quatro, has two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
It’s a prefabricated house, meaning that different parts of the house are 3D printed off-site and shipped to the final location. Besides the innovative 3D printing construction methods, the house is said to be “zero net energy”, meaning that it can generate all the energy it consumes.
The first Quatro house was delivered in September 2022 to Desert Hot Springs, California. However, since it’s prefabricated, you can purchase one and have it delivered (and put together) theoretically anywhere within California.
The costs vary greatly depending on each project, but expect to pay around $400,000 or more for the Quatro House module alone (excluding the land). There are other models of prefabricated printed houses at Mighty Buildings, too.
For Rent
While the number of 3D printed houses available for purchase is still small, there are a few options for those looking to rent or Airbnb one and feel the printed layers with their own hands.
Project Milestone
Project Milestone is a partnership between the Eindhoven University of Technology and other governmental and private institutions to 3D print five houses in the Bosrijk neighborhood of Eindhoven.
The Dutch single-story house is a bulky structure with around 1,010 square feet, with a spatial living room and two bedrooms. The first tenants moved in on April 2021, and they don’t seem to be going anywhere soon.
Fibonacci House
The Fibonacci House is acknowledged as the first 3D printed house listed on Airbnb. Located in tranquil Procter, Canada, the tiny home has around 380 square feet and can sleep four people on the mezzanine.
The unique design is based on the Fibonacci sequence (hence the name) and was built by the 3D printing construction company Twente Additive Manufacturing. A stary at the Fibonacci house will cost enthusiasts around $600 per night. It might be pricier than some other options, but you’ll get bragging rights and a unique experience.
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