The New York Times reports that TERA, a two-story 3D printed house designed by AI SpaceFactory (a Manhattan architectural and design agency), is helping industry innovators experiment with 3D printed architecture. The vision for TERA is to implement a strategy of building 3D printed homes on site using hyperlocal materials.
The project uses a computer-controlled dispenser to release a material that hardens into different shapes for housing structure (pipe, fitting, etc.) In the future, the goal is to be able to form the material into a building. As of now, architects are printing portions of houses and assembling them conventionally.
The article reports that innovators are seeking to reduce the expense, environmental impact, and hazards of current construction methods through 3D printing. Building with hyperlocal materials can have positive impacts on the environment, while also serving as a useful emergency housing option.
ICON, a construction technology start-up in Austin, Texas, is cited as a larger player in 3D-printing, with many intended beneficiaries being the impoverished or homeless. In May, the group made news with their plans for a village of about 50 printed houses for a poor community in Latin America.
Source: The New York Times
