Innovation

Credit: 14Trees

Since 3D printing became tangible four decades ago, people have dreamt big. Could a 3D printer produce an entire building? By the 2010s, structures were built using additive construction. Today, there are hundreds of 3D-printed buildings, pushing the technology to be cheaper and faster. With more variety and daring designs, some distinctive projects have emerged, from low-cost homes to a white tower fit for a wizard.

Some 3D-printed buildings are humble, yet have a great impact. This is the case for the world’s first 3D-printed school, in Salima, Malawi. It was built in 2023 by 14Trees, a joint venture between Holcim, British International Investment, and Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund. The main structure took 18 hours to complete, and the school was ready for classes in less than a month. 14Trees is also spearheading projects in Nigeria and Kenya, where it printed 10 homes in a new housing park, and aims to establish 3D construction printers suited for African requirements.