Serene
Active member
Building with 3D printers has matured rapidly in recent years, as advances in technology and material science allow for grander and more ambitious designs. The potential uses are also increasingly varied, from affordable housing to a planned NASA base on the Moon.
Most 3D-printed structures are built using concrete or other pourable, cementitious substances that are cheap, reliable and durable — although, almost invariably, with a hefty carbon footprint attached. But a nascent development in the field may offer a more sustainable approach: 3D printing with earth.
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In Kibaha, Tanzania, just west of the capital Dar es Salaam, a group of pioneering architects are set to build a new village with “earth printing” at its heart.
Created by architecture firms Hassell and ClarkeHopkinsClarke, alongside charity foundation One Heart, Hope Village has been designed to help and house children from across the country who have experienced hardship or unsafe home environments.
The village will offer schooling for up to 480 children, as well as accommodation, childcare and skills training for scores of vulnerable 3- to 18-year-old girls. Nearly 50 buildings are planned for the site, and the land purchased will also include areas for farming and livestock, sports and recreational areas.
The landmark building for Hope Village is its community center, a 3D-printed design that will serve as a school hall and cafeteria during the week and open to the wider community for events at weekends.
Most 3D-printed structures are built using concrete or other pourable, cementitious substances that are cheap, reliable and durable — although, almost invariably, with a hefty carbon footprint attached. But a nascent development in the field may offer a more sustainable approach: 3D printing with earth.
Ad Feedback
In Kibaha, Tanzania, just west of the capital Dar es Salaam, a group of pioneering architects are set to build a new village with “earth printing” at its heart.
Created by architecture firms Hassell and ClarkeHopkinsClarke, alongside charity foundation One Heart, Hope Village has been designed to help and house children from across the country who have experienced hardship or unsafe home environments.
The village will offer schooling for up to 480 children, as well as accommodation, childcare and skills training for scores of vulnerable 3- to 18-year-old girls. Nearly 50 buildings are planned for the site, and the land purchased will also include areas for farming and livestock, sports and recreational areas.
The landmark building for Hope Village is its community center, a 3D-printed design that will serve as a school hall and cafeteria during the week and open to the wider community for events at weekends.
