Japan’s first two-floor, 3D-printed reinforced concrete house has been completed in Miyagi Prefecture, meeting the government’s strict seismic design requirements.
Concrete printing startup Kizuki made it with builder Onocom using a custom Cobod 3D-printer, enabling printing from half a metre below ground to a height of 7m.
They used 39 cu m of material to get a total printed area of 50-sq-m, with a four-person team operating the printer in temperatures ranging between 10°C to over 35°C.
The ground floor measures 31 sq m, the upper floor 19 sq m. The design is inspired by caves, with 3D printed arches printed longitudinally, slabs for the roof and floor, and interior elements printed to extend the curved geometry.
A press release sent to GCR said the project showed that 3D-printed reinforced concrete can act as an alternative to traditional timber construction because it met seismic requirements in earthquake-prone regions.
Kizuki now plans to create more 3D-printed structures with broader applications.
Rika Igarashi, Kizuki’s chief executive, said: “Based on the knowledge gained through our recent residential construction project, we plan to expand the application of 3D-printing technology into civil structures, disaster-prevention and defence infrastructure, and post-disaster reconstruction.
“We are also developing a construction training program and a digital construction management system, aiming to establish a sustainable construction-industry model.”
Henrik Lund-Nielsen, Cobod’s general manager, said: “Japan has some of the most demanding seismic requirements in the world.
“Seeing a government approved two storey 3D-printed reinforced concrete house completed here confirms that 3D construction printing is ready for projects that rely on structural precision and consistent quality also in seismic areas.”
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