3D houses: the future of construction

Lisa Ernst · 10.11.2025 · Technology · 8 min

The 3D printing in construction has evolved from a technical experiment into a real construction option. Worldwide, single-family homes, entire settlements, and specialized structures are being built. This article highlights the technical processes, existing projects, opportunities and limits of this construction method, based on current studies and reports.

Quelle: Own rendering

Fundamentals of 3D printing in construction

When building with the 3D printer, a machine extrudes a construction material, layer by layer, usually a type of concrete, and stacks walls in this way. This is often referred to as '3D Concrete Printing' or '3D concrete printing', an additive, layer-by-layer construction method for load-bearing components ( 3druck.com, ScienceDirect).

The printers are typically portal systems or robotic arms that move on rails above the base slab and lay down the concrete strand along the planned wall geometry ( PERI 3D Construction, COBOD). ). Printed are primarily exterior and interior walls, partly in hollow chamber construction, which can later be filled with insulation or other materials ( COBOD, 3druck.com).

The printer does not create the complete house. Foundations, floors, roofs, windows, doors, building services and interior finishes are still implemented with traditional trades ( EcoHome, ECS Limited). ). The 3D printing primarily replaces masonry or formwork for walls, not the entire construction process ( UBE).

There are also variants where not concrete, but locally available earth or clay are printed. An example is the Italian Tecla house, made from a mixture of earth, water and plant fibers ( Wikipedia). ). Such experiments are intended to show how resources and embodied energy can be saved by using locally sourced material on site ( Wikipedia).

Quelle: 3d-grenzenlos.de

The 3D printer lays down material precisely to build complex building structures.

Current status and projects

A global assessment of the manufacturer COBOD found that by the end of 2022, 129 buildings with 3D printing had already been completed, across 105 construction sites worldwide ( COBOD, 3druck.com). ). These figures show that it is no longer just individual pilot projects ( Manufactur3D Mag).

In Germany, the first approved house built with a printer in Beckum (North Rhine-Westphalia) was constructed. It is a two-story single-family home, realized with a BOD2 concrete printer from COBOD and PERI ( PERI, COBOD). ). The project was supported as part of a funding program for 'innovative construction' ( PERI).

In Heidelberg, the Wavehouse was built in 2023, a building 54 meters long, about 11 meters wide and 9 meters high, used as an IT data center and regarded as the largest 3D-printed building in Europe ( PERI 3D Construction, Heidelberg Materials). ). The wave-shaped façades were printed in around 170 hours of pure printing time ( PERI 3D Construction). ). Heidelberg Materials developed special concretes for this purpose ( Heidelberg Materials).

Another project in Heidelberg is the DREIHAUS, a three-story multi-family housing concept where the walls are manufactured serially with 3D concrete printing ( PERI). ). PERI expects a shortening of construction time by about 30 percent and a cost reduction of about 10 percent compared to conventional buildings ( PERI, Ingenieur.de). ). The shell construction phases for a residential building in Heidelberg were completed in around 33 days ( CIO.de).

Internationally, entire quarters with 3D-printed ground floors are emerging. In Georgetown, Texas, ICON is building with Lennar a settlement of around 100 houses, whose exterior walls of the ground floors are created with a large-format printer ( Reuters, ICON). ). In Houston, Zuri Gardens is being built with 80 printed houses for middle-income families ( Houston Chronicle).

ICON is also realizing smaller projects for affordable housing, such as studio apartments in Austin ( Statesman, Axios). ). At the same time, higher-priced projects are emerging, such as a luxury resort with 3D-printed villas at Lake Travis in Texas ( MySanAntonio).

Unusual uses are also documented: In Brownsville, Texas, a cafe for a major chain is being built, whose shell comes from the 3D concrete printer ( Chron.com). ). Universities are experimenting with bio-based material blends from wood waste, aimed at enabling homes with a negative CO2 footprint ( Reasons to be Cheerful).

Analysis and motivations

A central motivation is the global need for additional housing in the face of scarce resources. The building sector accounts for around one-third of energy-related CO2 emissions ( Wikipedia). ). Organizations like New Story work with technology companies like ICON to establish small settlements in countries like Mexico, intended to provide permanent housing for poor families ( New Story, The New Yorker).

Manufacturers and planners expect greater speed and lower personnel costs from concrete printing. COBOD points out that 3D printing reduces error-proneness and can make the construction process more efficient ( COBOD). ). PERI describes its printing solution as a way to create shell structures with less material and less manual labor, especially for repetitive floor plans ( PERI 3D Construction). ). Additive construction methods play to their strengths especially for standardized single-family homes and small apartment buildings ( 3druck.com, Weerg).

Another driver is the search for more sustainable materials. The Tecla House in Italy shows how earth, water and plant fibers can be processed into a habitable building that largely consists of local materials ( Wikipedia). ). In Maine, fiber-reinforced biocomposites from wood waste and binders are used to print houses that are intended to be recycled long-term ( Reasons to be Cheerful). ). Such concepts aim to reduce waste, shorten transport routes, and sequester CO2 ( Wins Solutions).

Marketing and media value should not be underestimated. Spectacular images of printing robots are ideal subjects for press and social media ( PERI 3D Construction, 3druck.com). ). TV programs reinforce the impression of an imminent construction revolution ( CBS News). ). More critical articles, however, point to large differences between pilot projects and widespread application ( The New Yorker, Dwell).

The clip shows how companies stage the technology as a solution to housing shortages and even for Moon bases — and at the same time makes it clear how experimental much of it still is.

Quelle: 3druck.com

Hybrid construction methods that combine 3D printing with traditional methods are a promising trend in modern home construction.

Facts and open questions

It is evidenced that houses can be built in reality with the help of 3D printing and can be regularly permitted. Examples include the single-family house in Beckum ( PERI) ) and the Wavehouse data center in Heidelberg ( PERI 3D Construction, Heidelberg Materials). ). Also the settlement projects in Texas are real houses that are sold and inhabited ( Reuters, ICON Homes).

Well documented is also that additive construction methods can reduce material waste, as only the required amount of concrete is extruded and formwork largely becomes unnecessary ( Wins Solutions, Ricoh). ). Studies describe advantages for complex geometries, as organic shapes or free wall trajectories can be implemented without expensive specialized formwork ( ScienceDirect, Structures Insider).

It is unclear how large the actual cost and time savings are in widespread use. Manufacturers talk of savings between 10 and 35 percent ( COBOD, Weerg, TRERC). ). Economic analyses, however, indicate that purchase or rental of printers, training of teams, and adjustments to planning can partially erase the savings. Reliable lifecycle data for a building is still lacking ( Warrington UF, Reason.org).

Also unclear is the long-term durability of the printed walls. Long-term studies spanning decades naturally do not yet exist ( ScienceDirect, HUDUser). ). Experts emphasize that topics such as crack formation, moisture behavior and repair concepts must be further studied ( Passive House Accelerator, Structures Insider).

False or misleading are promises that a complete house can be created 'in 24 hours for a few thousand euros'. The frequently cited printing time refers only to the walls, not to foundations, roof, interior finishes, installations, or permitting and planning phases ( EcoHome, ECS Limited). ). Critical analyses show that such headlines mask the actual complexity of the construction process ( Dwell, Hackaday, Passive House Accelerator).

Quelle: user-added

An example of modern architecture that could be realized through innovative construction methods such as 3D printing.

Practical implications

3D-printed buildings are real options, but not yet widely available. If you want to build or move into such a house, you should carefully check providers, permitting status and local experiences ( EcoHome, ECS Limited).

Three questions are crucial: First, which parts of the house are actually printed and which trades are implemented traditionally ( UBE). ). Second, how transparent the cost breakdown is across the entire build, including planning, technology and maintenance ( TRERC, Reason.org). ). Third, whether there are reference projects from the same provider that have been in operation for several years in a similar climate ( Passive House Accelerator).

For sustainability-minded readers, material choice is relevant. Projects with earth- or clay-based mixes or bio-based composites aim to drastically reduce the CO2 footprint. Classical concrete printing projects reduce material waste but remain cement-based ( Wikipedia, Reasons to be Cheerful, Wins Solutions). ). Since the construction sector worldwide accounts for a significant share of energy emissions, real improvements here could have a large impact ( Wikipedia).

In media reporting it is helpful to consider the interests of the spokesperson. A company video will emphasize advantages, while independent investigations and scientific reviews are more likely to address uncertainties and open questions ( ScienceDirect, ResearchGate).

The time-lapse of a large residential building from the printer shows the technology—and at the same time makes visible how many traditional construction tasks are still necessary alongside the printer.

Although many walls have been printed, essential questions remain. The long-term durability over decades has hardly been empirically demonstrated yet, as most projects are only a few years old ( ScienceDirect). ). Systematic literature reviews emphasize that data on durability, maintenance, and total cost of ownership are still incomplete ( ResearchGate).

It is also unclear how quickly building law and standards will adapt. An analysis commissioned by the US Housing and Urban Development (HUD) cites missing standards, unclear guidelines, and lack of experience in authorities as key obstacles to broader adoption ( HUDUser). ). Similar notes can be found in assessments from Europe and North America ( EcoHome, ECS Limited).

Another open question concerns the social dimension: Will 3D-printed apartments actually be built where people with low incomes need them, or mainly as lighthouse projects in attractive markets ( The New Yorker, Reason.org)? ). Analyses warn against treating the technology as the sole answer to housing shortages, as long as land prices, financing, infrastructure and local policy are not considered ( AIU, Dwell).

3D-printed houses show how strongly building can change. There are real homes, whole neighborhoods, and complex special constructions that prove the technology can work in practice ( PERI 3D Construction, PERI, Reuters). ). At the same time, it is clear: the construction method will not solve housing shortages overnight, nor will it replace traditional trades or careful urban planning ( ScienceDirect, Reason.org).

It is worth following developments closely, asking curious questions and cross-checking claims with sources — especially with spectacular promises about construction time, costs and sustainability. This way, the opportunities of this new construction method can be seized without losing footing.