First 3D printed house to be sold in New Zealand
Buying
First 3D printed house to be sold in New Zealand
House hunters have been flocking to a new 3D printed home in Rotokauri, Hamilton which will be sold by auction at Lodge Real Estate on 2 April.
This is the first time in New Zealand a 3D printed house has been listed for sale, although the technology has been used for a handful of building projects in New Zealand before.
While the Hamilton property will soon be somebody’s home, it has been presented to the market as a ‘show home’, with the goal of spurring further interest in using 3D printing for residential construction locally.
Lodge residential sales consultant Zoe Wilson says the new technology uses a robotic printer to layer composite walls and has attracted a lot of interest.
When asked about who has shown interest, she says, “Naturally some people are just curious, but there’s also been a good portion of genuine, motivated buyers.”
Thanks to the 3D printing method, the property has several features that have left visitors pleasantly surprised.
Zoe says features like a ceiling running at a continuous height throughout, floor-to-ceiling windows and a curved interior wall all help give a greater sense of space and light. The printing method naturally brings more curves into the design that are very difficult to create using conventional building methods.
“The home represents the best of both worlds. It’s low maintenance thanks to the material it is constructed from but also has a very high-spec feel.”
She says many visitors have been surprised by the soft texture of the concrete composite.
Lodge managing director Jeremy O’Rourke says 3D printing certainly has potential, particularly in a fast-growing city like Hamilton.
He says this particular property demonstrates how character and uniqueness can be embedded into a build to deliver a very high-end finish and high level of intricacy.
The home was built by Hamilton-based company Iconic Construction which prints the walls using 3D technology, while the roof is conventional Colorsteel.
Construction manager Johnny Gordon says he hopes to see demand ramp up for the 3D method now more people have passed through the show home.
He is excited by the technology’s flexibility, enabling builders to construct truly unique, one-off homes.
“Thanks to the material, these are also homes that will last far longer than the typical house built in New Zealand. With 3D printing you can build and own a truly generational, enduring home.”
He also says there are huge opportunities to use the technology on a larger scale in a subdivision setting, where most of the printing is done onsite, making the whole process cheaper and faster. He also notes the 3D method is far friendlier on the environment, cutting construction waste - which typically heads to landfill - by up to two thirds.
While the technology is relatively new to New Zealand, Zoe says it has been successfully adopted overseas, including in the Middle East and Europe.
“Near Austin, Texas a 3D building company has printed 100 homes and 75% of them have already sold. Once the technology is mastered here, you can see the potential, especially for larger scale developments.”
Zoe says the Hamilton show home has been remarkably cool inside through the summer months, aided by the composite concrete having a generous layer of foam insulation between the interior and exterior walls.
“We’ve been encouraged by the response in Hamilton so far. People are appreciating it as a quality dwelling that will make a great home. It’s certainly unique but it’s full of surprises, especially with the interiors.”
