Real estate development company Emaar Properties unveiled Dubai’s first ever 3D printed villa. First announced in 2019, this construction 3D printing project was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the company has now released the first images of the 202 m2 3D printed home, which includes an integrated car park, three bedrooms, and four bathrooms.
This project aligns with Dubai’s ‘Smart City’ vision, which aims to have 25% of all construction projects 3D printed by 2030.
Emaar is collaborating with construction 3D printing specialist COBOD. and electronics manufacturer Xiaomi to design and 3D print the villa, which will include integration with Xiaomi’s Smart Home technology. The villa was designed by Dubai-based architecture firm U+A.
In addition to its three bedrooms, four bathrooms, fully equipped kitchen and dining room, and study room, the 3D printed house boasts integration with Xiaomi’s Mobile X AIOT products, which include smart vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, and cameras.
The villa has been constructed using COBOD’s BOD2 3D printer. A gantry-based 3D printer optimized for on-site large-format concrete 3D printing, the BOD2 weighs 5390 kg and operates at a sound level of less than 70 dB(A).
This 3D printer has already been used in construction projects around the world. For instance, back in 2020 the BOD2 was leveraged by Germany-based construction company PERI Group to construct a 3D printed three-floor commercial apartment building in Wallenhausen, Germany.
This project marks Emaars first foray into construction 3D printing. According to the company, which has a net asset value of $40 billion USD, additive manufacturing enables it to build faster, more cost effectively, and achieve more distinctive designs.
Notable design details include the extensive use of curved walls and large-scale windows. What’s more, the company claims that its 3D printing methods decrease waste and reduce noise pollution during construction.
