3D-printed canal home takes shape in Amsterdam

[dipsydoodle]

It sounds like the ultimate do-it-yourself project: the print-your-own-home.

In place of bricks and mortar and the need for a construction crew, a customisable building plan which transforms itself from computer screen graphics into a real-world abode thanks to the latest in 3D printing technology.

That dream is still beyond our reach, but several teams of architects across the globe are engaged in efforts to take a major step towards it by creating the world's first 3D-printed homes.

Amsterdam-based Dus Architects is one of the firms involved - it plans to print a canal house in the Dutch capital.

It's worth taking a moment to reflect on that premise; the machine will not modestly 3D-print the usual cup, curtain ring or piece of jewellery, but an actual building.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22152212

[TlalocW]

1. Huh...

That's going to be some big printer.

TlalocW

[d_r]

2. its neat an all

but ultimately, wouldn't it be a better use of resources to use things like tire bales that already exist rather than using a printer to create new stuff? Isn't it basically a petro-based plastic that the printer uses?

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Stop asking sensible questions !

Bow down and worship this obvious triumph of technology, before you get branded a Luddite !

[Occulus]

4. It's not really all that sensible a question, and mocking this one project does indeed make you

a Luddite, to a degree.

This is an experiment, to perfect the technology. Of course it would be easier to build a house using traditional methods at this time. Of course the resources being used are an inefficient waste for mass production at this time. Of course it could be done easier using traditional techniques at this time.

This is a first and, as with so many technological firsts, those who do not 'get' why it's a huge deal will mock it. But it is precisely projects and experiments such as this one that will refine the technology to the point where it can be widely commercially applied. As with the very first telephones, and the first computers.

This is a huge triumph of technology and will only continue to get better, but it will only be able to do so if those who mock it and dismiss it are themselves mocked, dismissed, and finally ignored completely. That is as it should be and as it always has been, and if we sat down, gave up, said "you're right, this is a waste so why bother", we would not have a very great many of the things we enjoy today.

[d_r]

5. I wasn't mocking

it just seems like there might be better uses for the technology. Some things might be better high tech, others low tech. I may be wrong, and I'm sure I won't be stopping anyone. But I was wondering if the printable material uses petrochemicals. I think it does, but I don't know for sure. If so, we'd probably be better off reducing, reusing, recycling.

[JimDandy]

7. I like the technology more and more...

Just am hoping that they can find a better (renewable, environmentally friendly) substance than plastic (oil) to use for the building ingredient.

[Posteritatis]

6. Definitely. (nt)

[JimDandy]

8. Definitely the most ambitious use

of a 3-D printer that I've ever heard of. I keep trying to get my family to jump in on the ground floor of this technology, but they aren't convinced yet. It's exciting to me.