[amor de cosmos]

The Future of Buildings Will Be Printed in 3D
Noah Goldstein — March 11, 2014

There is something mesmerizing about watching a 3D printer work. Whether it’s printing in plastic, sand, metal, sugar, or chocolate, it is captivating to see layer after layer be laid down to create simple or sublime forms. 3D-printed (also known as additive) materials have been recognized as having novel material, physical, and even electric properties. Impossible shapes have been created that could enable an expansion in how materials can be conceived and used. But what does additive manufacturing mean for buildings? The ultimate application is easy to conceive: printing buildings, molecule by molecule, creating homes with landing pads for flying cars, and a HAL-9000 built into the walls. But that is the Future (with a capital F). In the near future, 3D printing will change the ways buildings are maintained and built.

The first application of 3D printing will address a very old-school problem: replacing parts in aging equipment. Buildings are incredible for their durability. This is also true for the equipment inside buildings. At the Hotel Boulderado in Boulder, Colorado, the city where Navigant Research is headquartered, the original elevator is still running after 100 years. With good maintenance, some systems will last for decades beyond their intended service life. Keeping legacy systems in place lowers capital expenses for building owners. But it’s not always easy to replace old parts. In some cases, the replacement parts are no longer available, either because the manufacturer has gone out of business or has simply stopped making them. In other cases, the transport costs for replacing parts can be prohibitive. 3D printing can solve that by creating custom parts made with extreme precision. With the portability of 3D printing, it could even be possible to send the design specs for the part to the location where they are needed and print the part onsite.

Print Me a House

http://www.navigantresearch.com/blog...-printed-in-3d