<center> https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/04/25/23/30/home-1353389_1280.jpg</center> 
# Are 3D printers going to provide the perfect low cost housing solution?
<center> </center> Millions of people have considered giving up on the dream of ever one day owning a home, because of the insane real estate bubbles that look to be ongoing in a variety of cities.

For many young people today, they can't imagine ever having the thousands, or tens of thousands of dollars saved that it might take them to be able to afford a home; that would be ideal for them and their loved ones. 

## And because so many have struggled with trying to own a home, it's paved the way for creative solutions to come in the way of things like *tiny homes, shipping container homes, and 3D printed homes*.
<center>https://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_371w/Boston/2011-2020/2017/04/10/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/11Donnelly2.jpg </center>
<center> </center> One new project, that's *a collaboration between a non-profit* (known as <b>New Story</b>) *and a Texas construction company* (known as <b>Icon</b>), is looking to drastically change this space. 

## They're planning to use 3D printing to offer some low-cost housing solutions in areas like <b>El Salvador</b>. 
<center> </center> Eventually, they hope to have built a sort of 3D printed *tiny home community* there, with at least 100 homes or more for those who need them.

With the low-cost homes that they are planning to build, they expect to be able to produce a home on average for about $4,000. And *this is about half the cost* of what the price is on average these days to print a home. [see the home they printed below]

<center>https://qzprod.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/3d-printed-house-sxsw-austin.jpg?quality=80&strip=all&w=1616 </center>
Just recently, together both Icon and New Story had unveiled their <b>proof-of-concept</b> home model in Texas and it *measured about 350 sq ft* (seen above). The building project took them *roughly 48 hours to complete* and it only cost them $10,000. 

## Eventually, they plan to get the printing time down and dramatically lower that price to about half. 
<center> </center>
Also, they aren't the only ones who are looking to use this technology to print entire buildings either. 

There is another company known as <b>Apis Cor</b>, a San Fran startup, that has been doing the same thing. They built a home for less than $11k in under 2 days in a town in Russia. They have also said that they have plans to become one of, if not the biggest international construction company in this space, using 3D printing in this way. 

# Is 3D printing the future of construction?
<center>https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/03/05/04/47/workers-659885_1280.jpg </center>
Just like with drone technology, 3D printing technology is making its way into a variety of different industry spaces. From car manufacturers turning to use it, to the medical industry, food industry, and many others. We've got printers printing body parts, food, houses, tools, a myriad of other items.

## The 3D printed construction method is alleged to help save at least <b>*60 percent or more*</b> of the materials cost and even more, about <b>*80 percent*</b> saved on labor. 
<center> </center> With this sort of savings potential, we shouldn't be surprised if a growing number of construction companies look to innovate and embrace the new technology. Perhaps within a few years we might start to see this sort of building process become much more common in the market. 

## Dubai has already set themselves a target, *hoping that by 2030* at least <b>25 percent of their buildings</b> will be 3D printed projects. 
<center> </center> 
If they're able to produce homes for a <b>much cheaper cost</b> and then also sell it on the market at a dramatic difference compared to the average traditional homes on the market today, then there's little doubt this technology will help bring about a home solution for many who are financially struggling who might otherwise been unable to afford their own place.


Pics:
Pixabay
AP via Boston Globe
New Story/Icon via QZ
pixabay

Sources:
http://www.wired.co.uk/article/architecture-and-3d-printing
https://www.thebalance.com/3d-printing-construction-industry-845342
https://newatlas.com/icon-new-story-3d-printed-homes/53781/
https://qz.com/1227301/sxsw-2018-affordable-3d-printed-houses-from-icon-and-charity-new-story-debuted-in-austin/
https://www.thespectrum.com/story/life/features/2018/03/17/this-startup-has-a-3d-printer-that-can-literally-print-houses-for-4000/32917171/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/suparnadutt/2017/06/14/this-startup-is-ready-with-3d-printing-robots-to-build-your-house-fast-and-cheap/#3cbc7b066e8e
https://apemobile.com/companies-behind-3d-printing-revolution/
https://www.business.com/articles/guide-to-construction-3d-printing/

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