First 3D Printed House in Europe Built in Czech Republic – Could Float on Water

Burinka, a company which specializes in the construction of residential buildings with the help of 3D technology, has built a first 3D-printed house in the Czech Republic that might also float on water. In cooperation with sculptor Michal Trpak, the company printed out the house, which they called Prvok od Burinki, in only 22 hours, using 17 tons of a concrete mixture, as reported by the Faculty of Computing (RAF).

The house is primarily meant for clients with an awareness of sustainability, because the ecological design reduces the emission of CO2 and waste, reduces construction costs by 50% and features technologies which reduce living costs, such as heat pumps and solar panels for water heating. Above all, it truly looks incredibly attractive.

The 3D-printed house is suitable for city residents, but also for living in a village. It has an area of 43 square meters and three rooms: a living room with a kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom with a toilet. It was made with the help of a robot arm called Scoolpt, which eliminates construction waste and reduces the emission of CO2 by 20%. A specially developed concrete mixture was used. It was printed out in June and is expected to be fully built by the end of the summer (and to open for the public sometime in August).

– After a certain amount of time, the owners can tear down the house once its usage period expires and print it out again, using the same material directly on site – Trpak explained the durability of the building. According to the company's press release, the structure can withstand an avalanche. (The mechanical test of resilience and stability was carried out in cooperation with the Experimental Center of the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague). They hope that 3D-printed houses will become a common sight in this European country.

– In order for the 3D-printing technology to become a part of the construction industry, we must present it to experts, architects, builders, the government and other competent institutions – said Jiri Vele, an architect who takes part in the project. – We need to create new fields of research and study in this area.

Burinka

Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague

Michal Trpak

Jiri Vele

3D printed house

water floating house

ecological design

reduction of CO2 emission