By Nikki De Guzman:
Using the world’s largest 3D printer, Dutch architect Janjaap Ruijssenaars of Universe Architecture in Amsterdam plans to print a building resembling a giant Mobius strip with a floor space of about 11,840 sq ft.
Ruijssenaars said the building “will have parts usually made from a concrete-like material printed using broken up rocks and an emulsion binding, while steel and glass will provide the facade".
Designed by the Italian Enrico Dini, the printer can print objects by up to 6m by 6m.
According to Ruijssenaars, the technology turned out to be the most appropriate medium for the project which has the essence of a continuous landscape. “With a 3D printer, even a small model, we can make the whole structure from bottom to top without anyone seeing where it begins or ends,” he noted.
Meanwhile, a Brazilian national park has shown interest in the building, which could be developed into a private residential project for around US$5.3 million (S$6.56 million).
The project will take about 18 months to complete with the printer in use for half a year.
“The challenge is demonstrating that it’s possible to print real buildings in 3D and affirm that there is a new way to manufacture buildings,” said Dini, adding that it remains a hybrid process in building techniques.
He said that 3D printing makes it easy to build in empty spaces and rocks found within the construction site can even be used.
Image: Mobius strip-inspired landscape house (Source: Universal Architecture)
Nikki De Guzman, Junior Reporter at PropertyGuru, wrote this story. To contact her about this or other stories email nikki@propertyguru.com.sg
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