Affordable Homes for All

Affordable Homes For All

Project 2021-09-08 20:11:39 +1200

The aim of this project is to research and develop a viable business concept to build healthy, safe and self-sufficient homes of 40sqm or more, utilising construction 3D printing, solar energy, tank water and composting for NZ$50,000, or less, in under a week.

American Home Printed for US$4,000 (<NZ$6,000) in under 48 Hours

A 3D printed house is a structure that is built, layer-by-layer, using 3D printing technologies (construction 3D printing). One of the primary tools used for 3D printing homes is a construction 3D printer. Essentially, it’s usually a big robotic arm with a nozzle that extrudes specially formulated material based on cement (sometimes a mix of concrete, mud or earth), hemp, or similar. Though designs vary from printers looking like cranes with a large nozzle at the end to mobile structures that are quickly assembled and disassembled on site.

3D House Made by a ‘Crane’ Printer in Italy

While accurate timing and costing for this research project is difficult during the pandemic, with various global lockdowns and changing travel restrictions, the sought funds are sufficient to allow for international travels for up to six months to inspect and compare various currently available house printing products; to spend up to three months consulting with professional New Zealand engineers, architects, electricians, plumbers, builders and Government officials; to develop a viable business plan using the most appropriate products and technologies; to determine realistic operational roll-out timing and cost; and to seek the actual start-up capital to purchase (or develop and build) construction 3D printers and start working. Major contributors to the research funding ($500 and above) will receive a detailed Information Memorandum and first choice to invest in the anticipated start-up.

Concrete Off-Grid Homes Printed in the Netherlands

I recently proposed the establishment of a state-owned enterprise to research the local development of technologies that would allow the 3D-printing of entire homes for little more than the cost of the (concrete-based) materials and in record time. The Office of our Housing Minister, Hon Dr Megan Woods, responded that ‘this Government is already working with off-site manufacturing (OSM) or prefabricated housing suppliers’. Such efforts only marginally reduce building costs and don’t cut much of the time it takes to manufacture. It merely shifts the place of manufacture and adds efficiencies through economies of scale. But it also brings new costs and additional risks due to the need to transport and assemble large pre-fabricated house components. Neither the Government, nor current profit-driven organisations appear to have the knowledge, skills, determination or motivation to make minor investments that would substantially improve the lives of our most vulnerable in one of the most resource-rich countries on the planet.

I am aware of at least five businesses globally that have developed market-ready 3D house printers (USA, UK, China, Europe and Australia) to a commercial standard. 3D-printed houses are created using very large mobile 3D printers that, unlike smaller hobbyist or other types of industrial units, are able to extrude concrete, mud, earth, hemp or other materials through nozzles, in order to gradually build up a 3D object the size of a house. The example home in the title photo is an American-built prototype printed in less than 48 hours for around US$4,000 (~NZ$5,700*). *20/09/2021

3D Printed Concrete Home in Mexico

Without giving away too much at this early stage, I can just say that technologies and printers vary significantly with constantly new concepts being developed and entering the market. This applies to the actual printers, as well as the variety of materials used. However, it appears so far that most builders of these large printers are more interested in printing cheap houses and selling them for a huge profit, rather than making less profit by selling the actual printers. I am also aware that suppliers often neglect to disclose issues and down-sides of their particular product and design, which risks large investment flops. Besides: New Zealand has a large contingent of world-class architects, engineers, builders and software developers, so there is also an option and possibility of designing and manufacturing our own capability locally.

In order to establish the most effective product to purchase, or how to best develop our own technology, it will be necessary to visit manufacturers and inspect as many already available printers as possible for their suitability and cost, and consult extensively with local professionals to establish the most viable option(s) to prevent costly failures and disappointments.

Home 3D-Printed using Hemp in Australia

Other individuals and groups are also currently working on establishing commercial house printing capabilities in New Zealand, realising the gigantic profits to be made by just slightly under-cutting current market prices. This will do little to help those in need and rather further entrench social and housing inequality by limiting developments to those with the capital and the means to buy into this emerging market and dominate it. The business I am proposing begs to be different: If this research project is successful, which I am sure it will be given sufficient funding, it will turn New Zealand housing on its head by providing one beautiful home every week per available printer, or over 50 homes per year and printer - for about the same cost as a new mid-sized SUV.

Everybody benefits in a community that looks after its own. Less poverty and homelessness mean less crime, fewer suicides and an altogether happier and better functioning society and country. I am committed to put Kiwis' needs before profits with a self-imposed maximum business profit margin of 50% on all finished products, and also set aside 10% of annual net profits to help subsidise homes for homeless families with little to no funds.

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