Texas antiquing mecca welcomes world’s first 3D printed, near-zero-carbon homes.
-Source: CultureMap
The future of sustainable home construction is here. Residents in the Texas antiquing and shopping destination of Round Top are getting the first look at 3D printed homes created by HIVE 3D Builders and Eco Material Technologies, the largest producer of sustainable materials.
The 3D printed homes are part of The Casitas at The Halles, a new collection of affordable and environmentally sustainable 400- to 900-square-foot homes in the town's most popular retail and event venue. The casitas can be configured with studio, single-bedroom, or two-bedroom floor plans.
"These small homes will serve as a model for affordable and eco-friendly housing throughout the country," said Hive 3D CEO Timothy Lankau in a press release. "We plan to build them at a speed and cost point that is unprecedented in the affordable housing space."
Every home is being constructed using Hive 3D's PozzoCEM Vite cement replacement material, which creates 92 percent less emissions than traditional cement. PozzoCEM Vite also sets in a matter of minutes, rather than the typical one to two days it takes for regular cement to set.
Additionally, Hive 3D and Eco Materials collaborated to develop a new way to mix their materials with specially-modified commercial mixing equipment, thus further reducing production costs.
Eco Materials Technologies CEO Grant Quasha said in the release that Hive 3D's goal to construct 3D printed homes using their materials similarly aligns with his company's own goal to change the construction industry for the better, while improving overall carbon emissions.
"While we are known as the largest supplier of sustainable cement alternatives for large scale infrastructure projects, we are proud to be able to work with forward-thinking innovators like the team at Hive 3D to provide residential solutions as well," Quasha said. "These homes are cost efficient, beautiful and sustainable in many senses of the word."
More information about the casitas can be found on hive3dbuilders.com.