Massimiliano Locatelli, of CLS Architetti is writing a new language of design that reflects the new 3D printing technology

Massimiliano collaborated with Italcementi Heidelberg Cement Group, Dutch construction company CyBe Construction, and Arup to design and bring to life “3D Housing 05 “, a prototype of a 3D-printed concrete home created in response to the growing affordable housing crisis.

The one storey concrete house, located in the grand Piazza Cesare Beccaria, covers 100 square meters; it has curved walls, a living area, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.

It is made up of 35 modules that have each been printed in 60-90 minutes; the full house was printed on site by a portable robot, in an effective time of just 48 hours.

The building will be moved from the square to a new location after the festival

The Major of Milan, Giuseppe Sala was at the opening ceremony.

Guglielmo Carra (Arup), Cristina Tajani (Comune di Milano), Massimiliano Locatelli (CLS Architetti), Luca Stabile (Arup), Massimo Borsa

The construction industry is currently one of the world’s biggest users of resources; in the UK alone it accounts for 60% of all raw materials consumed.

The concrete 3D printed house, the first of its kind within the EU, can be taken apart and reassembled elsewhere.

Arup, a knowledge partner of the Ellen McArthur Foundation, has applied learnings from its innovative Circular Building, which was constructed out of fully re-usable components.

On Site Construction

The project is intended to showcase the role 3D printing can play in reducing construction waste by increasing efficiencies during the building process and allowing materials to be reused at the end of the building’s life.

The project differs from many other 3D processes in its use of a robotic manipulator, mounted on a movable base for increased flexibility compared with fixed 3D printers.

A robot from Cybe Construction was used to print the walls, while the roof, windows and doors were completed afterwards.

Cement suppliers Italcementi provided advice for the base concrete mix used during the printing operations.

It is built with a Cybe mobile 3D concrete printer out of Cybe mortar specifically developed for 3D printing:

This brings some very convenient features compared to for example portland cement.

Cybbe mortar sets in 5 minutes and achieves structural strength in 1 hour, so collapsing or falling walls are out of the question with CybBe MORTAR. Furthermore the dehydration time is only 24 hours compared to 28 days with traditional concrete.

Finishing of the walls/building can be done after 24 hours what’s impossible with other types of concrete – the plaster will immediately fall of the wall – which limits the final finishing phase of the project significantly.

See the Arup 3D printing video here

More importantly, however, are the sustainable and adaptive possibilities that a 3D-printed building allows for. 3D Housing 05 focuses on five key principles: creativity, sustainability, flexibility, affordability, and rapidity.

Not only can the house be expanded outward, it can also be built upward to incorporate another floor, for example, or even moved to another location.

The house showcases the role 3D printing can play in reducing construction waste; it increases efficiencies during the building process and allows materials to be reused at the end of the building’s life, rather than ending up as landfill.

Being made from concrete, it can also be demolished, pulverized, and reconstructed with the same composite material, a mixture of cementitious powders, binders, and aggregates, which itself can come from local soil.

This process also radically reduces the cost of construction, opening up the possibility of building much needed housing for many of the world’s poorest population in a short span of time.

““We are at Salone del Mobile to build momentum. We need to make a major shift in the way the construction industry operates, away from today’s ‘make, use, dispose’ mentality. We’ve shown with this building that 3D printing technology is now advanced enough to take on more complex structures, and design buildings to be repurposed or reused at the end of their life. This technology is critical to helping our industry become far more accurate, efficient and less wasteful. ” ……………… Guglielmo Carra – Europe Materials Consulting Lead at Arup

From left to right Davide Agrati (CLS Architetti), Luca Stabile (Arup), Giuseppe Sala (Major of Milan), Massimiliano Locatelli (CLS Architetti), Guglielmo Carra (Arup)

“ This building represents a milestone for 3D printing applied to construction. The industry is fast moving towards increased levels of automation. Robots are opening up a number of possibilities for realizing the next generation of advanced buildings.

Digital tools combined with new technologies will enable the production of custom made shapes that cannot be produced otherwise. We are pushing the boundaries and contributing to radical innovation through new manufacturing technologies and materials.” ……….. Luca Stabile – Arup’s Italy building practice leader

Concept Development

Interiors

Being Milan, it has to be furnished properly, and it is lovely, all filled with designer furniture and finishes.

There are some interesting things going on in this house. Massimiliano Locatelli is using the tech to get a house form that would be hard to achieve with normal methods.

The interiors have been designed with reference to archetypes of the past, in a dialogue with the 3d language.

In the prototype, striated composite walls are put in relief by the sleek brass window casements and door frames, marble bath fixtures, smooth plaster of a possible wall finish, and the polished brass sheets making up the kitchen counters, showcasing the possibility that though 3D-printed homes may appear crude on the outside, they can certainly be beautiful on the inside.

“ My vision was to integrate new, more organic shapes in the surrounding landscapes or urban architecture….The challenges are the project’s five key values: creativity, sustainability, flexibility, affordability and rapidity. The opportunity is to be a protagonist of a new revolution in architecture.” ………. Massimiliano Locatelli

” I envisage this house being built in the future, everywhere and anywhere, even on the moon.” ………. Massimiliano Locatelli