The United Nations’ predicted global housing crisis has become a serious challenge for people all over the globe. Finding a housing solution that is affordable and offers investors enough sustainability has become very difficult. 3D Printing technology just might be the right way forward as these homes can be built for a fraction of the cost.

3D Printing solves the High demand problem for housing

It is not surprising to hear that housing costs are through the roof right now and there is no way housing development firms can offer enough supply. Due to the high pricing of property prices in cities, it is estimated that more than a third of the urban population may be unable to secure housing by 2025 according to the McKinsey Global Institute.

Reducing construction costs is one of the most direct ways to counter this, and it has been suggested that bringing down construction costs through 3D printing can help make homes much more affordable.

Every company is focused on the household market and are trying to bring forth solutions that can make 3D printed homes a reality at affordable prices. 3D printing is no longer just a novelty, and it’s a real solution that development companies are looking to offer.

Homes under $10000

As more construction companies are on the run to development teams for 3D printed housing solutions, many startups are already offering solutions to the masses. Apis Cor demonstrated that they can print an entire igloo style house for under $10,000 including all fittings and fixtures. These 38 square meter homes include a bathroom, a bedroom and a hallway.

And if you had any doubts about how durable these things are, it is estimated that these igloo style houses can survive up to 175 years. Most importantly, these solutions are also ecologically sustainable as they are built with eco-friendly materials like geopolymer concrete to help eliminate a large percentage of pollution involved with constructing houses.

3D printing can solve homelessness

With such a low cost of building 3d printed homes, WASP (World’s Advanced Saving Project) has managed to build the world’s largest 3D printer to create shelters for homeless people with almost zero environmental impact. Massimo Morreti from WASP seeks to provide a means for locals to seek shelter in poverty-stricken regions. The company seeks to partner with NGOs and municipalities to offer their solutions in the form of basic structural shells with all basic amenities available.

3D printing not only allows the building to be much faster but also a lot more resource efficient – it is the perfect technology to tackle challenges like homelessness and displaced populations. Quality assurance is high on the radar of these 3D printing and software development companies to ensure cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean worse housing.

Competition in the 3D printing world

It’s not just the lower costs that make 3D printed houses affordable. The market for 3d printing is quite cramped and the race to print the best 3D homes is quite fierce among competitors with brands trying to offer the best possible solutions at the lowest prices. WinSun, a Chinese 3D printing company managed to build a staggering ten houses in a single day. Their method is designed to allow mass production of houses and automatic construction.

With over 20 years of research put into the technology, WinSun has been able to compete with conventional construction companies by offering 3D printed homes at economical rates for the masses. While regulation of quality may still be a concern for consumers who are looking to buy 3D printed homes, if the industry continues to develop at a rapid pace we can expect high quality and affordable homes to be available to anyone looking to buy a home in the coming years.

It’s not always small and simple

While the idea of 3D printed homes might sound like a solution meant to offer homes at affordable prices. We can also expect fully customizable homes with high-end design to be available. 3D printing allows a lot of creative design, and it has revolutionized the way houses are seen and built in the past few years.

Companies like DUS Architects are trying to offer high-quality budget designer homes that cater to consumers who are looking for affordable housing but also want to focus on community and design. Currently, available 3d printed homes are mostly monotonous and standardized, but it does not have to be. These modern 3d printed homes focus on using bioplastic that is recyclable and easy to modify to print homes that are in line with community schematics people may desire.

3D Printing is the future and may offer quality solutions in the coming years across the globe. While the technology is in its infancy right now, it is a very promising technology as it not only offers affordable homes but can also reduce resource usage, time, pollution and more. It is a technology that offers value to both consumers as well as the planet, and could prove to be disruptive for the housing market.