Apple TV+’s ‘Home’ episode 'Mexico' shows 3D printed houses could revolutionize the construction industry
Apple TV+’s latest documentary feature walked us through some of the most incredible and fascinating homes and architectural concepts from homeowners and designers around the world. But the show was not just about enriching visuals and sensory delight. It also drove a point. With New Story’s initiative in Mexico, the show explored how 3D printing is foraying into the construction space more than ever before. We believe or as the episode 'Mexico' proves, this could bring about a huge change and become more mainstream.
But before we talk any further, here’s what we need to know and understand about 3D printing.
The technology might seem pretty recent but has been around since the late 70s. And in recent years, this technology has started to shift from being a niche to being more inclusive across industries. The construction space is no exception. As of now, the idea of using 3D printing is still restricted to smaller, intricate components of design and is still a few miles away from being included in the aesthetics of architecture. Yes, one cannot deny that this tech is making a lot of headlines in this space and will continue. However, the growth and implementation of 3D printing are rapidly shifting, owing to its huge potential.
The chapter on ‘Mexico’ is a clear proof. The town of Tabasco in Mexico comprises of smaller communities where people are deprived of major civic amenities and living on meager incomes, almost making it impossible to have a proper shelter. And New Story took this opportunity to use a technology that is trending, viable, and could become the future of home construction. The San Francisco based non-profit organization aims at providing solutions to homeless families and communities around the world. As shared by its co-founder, Alexandria Lafci, the organization took on a project to build more than 2,500 homes and the world’s first community using 3D printing, housing 50 families who were living on less than $3 per day.
The challenge of addressing the pressing issue of homelessness around the world is huge and almost impossible to tackle in the traditional way. Even if we talk about low income groups and affordability to build/buy properties in most countries, the struggles are monumental. Shrinking spaces, rising property prices, and volatile economies are some of the hindrances that make it nearly impossible for people in such societies to own a home. And that is where 3D printed houses can become a boon.
Using mixed and solo materials like concrete, metal, glass, recycled plastic and polymer, resins, natural products like soil, mud, and even hemp, printers can build endless objects, layer by layer. Typically, a 3D printed home can last up to 50 to 60 years, albeit depending on the materials, geographical location, and so on. As printers become larger, possibilities become more and new avenues of construction keep opening up.
What was niche and exclusive so far, with a few iconic structures being built on 3D printing, can now become more inclusive and allow more people to adopt it. There might be certain limitations in its current usage within architecture but with its potential as vast as endless as experts see it, that day is not far when 3D printed homes will be the ‘it’ thing in building design and shake up the construction space, and affordably so.
‘Home’ is now streaming on Apple TV+.