In Milan Europe's First 3D-Printed House Hints At A Sustainable Solution To The Housing Crisis

At Milan design week, London-based design firm Arup and Milan-based CLS Architetti have created and displayed Europe’s first 3D-printed house
When 3D-printed homes were first proposed, technologists raved about a range of hypothetical opportunities the technology could bring.

Not only could buildings be constructed on-site at a fraction of the traditional cost, they could be built using sustainable materials, reducing transportation costs, pollution, and waste.

And while the U.S., China and Russia quickly began building homes out of nozzles, strict EU building codes delayed the spread of domestic printing across the continent. But now, at Italian design festival Salone del Mobile, London-based design firm Arup has joined forces with Milan-based CLS Architetti to showcase Europe’s first 3D-printed home.

While rather uninspiringly named, the ‘3D Housing 05’ one-storey house prototype has been built live on Piazza Cesare Beccaria, Milan’s central square. The building has a living area, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom, covering a total area of 100 square meters.

“The construction industry is one of the world’s biggest users of resources and emitters of CO2,” said Guglielmo Carra, Europe materials consulting lead at Arup. “We want to bring a paradigm shift in the way the construction industry operates and believe that 3D printing technology is critical to making buildings more sustainable and efficient. It creates less waste during construction and materials can be repurposed and reused at the end of their life.”

The tech has even been hailed as a potential solution for disaster zones, as temporary dwellings for displaced populations could be constructed quickly and affordably.

For more on the potential of 3D printing see our in-depth exploration, Printing the House of the Future.

About the author

Claire Lancaster

Tech & Entrepreneurship Editor

English-American, Claire has lived and worked in the U.S., South America, Europe and the UK. As Culture Trip’s tech and entrepreneurship editor she covers the European startup scene and issues ranging from Internet privacy to the intersection of the web with civil society, journalism, public policy and art. Claire holds a master’s in international journalism from City University, London and has contributed to outlets including Monocle, NPR, Public Radio International and the BBC World Service. When not writing or travelling, she can be found searching for London's best brunch spot or playing with her cat, Diana Ross.