The first 3D printed community

The world welcomes its first 3D printed neighborhood

Mary Kate Nolan, staffer

In the rural atmosphere of Tabasco, Mexico, a community containing 50 3D printed homes has been open since December 2019.

Tech company ICON and U.S.-based non-profit New Story have teamed up to build the world’s first 3D printed neighborhood. This project is part of their mission to combat global homelessness.

“I think 3D printed communities are great for making fast, affordable homes,” freshman Nico Curci said. “A house that might take one month to make with the salary of several workers could be made in one day with one machine.”

The process, according to ICON CEO Brett Hagler, almost looks like soft serve ice cream by applying the exterior of the house in a way that ice cream would come out of a machine. A machine, when on an X-Y axis, oozes the cement mix out of a nozzle to produce a home with two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room and a bathroom. Each home is built to withstand hurricanes and is seismic-approved in case of an earthquake.

“It seems very interesting that we are moving into this process already,” senior Alexa Farmer said. “I used to think this stuff would only happen in the future, but then I realized we are already living in it.”

The company hires local workers for the necessary labor involved, and though the 3D technology and automation will speed up the building process, workers are still needed to install plumbing and attach the roof and doors.

“I think we should incorporate 3D printed communities into the U.S.,” Curci said. “For instance, 3D Build Systems based in Englewood, Florida, is already working on 3D printed housing right now.”