Effective architectural design components of 3D printed housing: A systematic review

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Milad Rezazadeh ¹
• Hamed Mazaherian ²
• Mohammadreza Matini ³

¹ PhD in Architecture, Department of Architecture, School of Architecture, College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran,Tehran,Iran.

² Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, School of Architecture, College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

³ Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, School of Architecture, Art University of Iran, Tehran, Iran.

10.22067/context.2025.91936.1012

Abstract

This research presents a conceptual framework for designing houses constructed with 3D printing, derived from an extensive review of relevant architectural literature. This innovative technology addresses crucial aspects and considerations for effective housing design. The article summarizes the architectural fundamentals necessary for 3D-printed homes, analyzing various academic articles and scientific sources to extract pertinent information. The findings cater to the needs of architects, engineers, and researchers, providing insights to enhance their design and decision-making processes. Key features of 3D-printed housing are categorized into five areas: structure, materials, printer types, construction sites, and architectural features. Concrete is identified as the primary material for building these homes, with construction permits available in regions like Iran. Two major printer systems are prominent in this field: the gantry system, ideal for larger, simple layouts, and the robotic arm system, suitable for intricate designs with limited production scope. For construction, on-site building is recommended with gantry systems, while workshop methods are better for complex designs.
Concrete's tensile limitations can be addressed using steel reinforcements. Architecturally, designs may feature curved walls and unique geometries, making them compatible with computer-aided design. Overall, 3D printing is best suited for small, one-story homes, but combining traditional structural elements can allow for higher constructions while maximizing this technology’s potential.

Keywords

• housing construction
• house 3D printing
• digital fabrication
• mass customization
• architectural design criteria

References

1. Aboelhassan, M. G. (2023). "Future of Sustainable Construction Industry: A Review of Research, Practice and Applications of 3D Concrete Printing.". Advancements in Civil Engineering & Technology. 5, 1-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.31031/acet.2023.05.000616.
2. Abouelela, A. S. & Malek Ali, M. A. (2021). "3D Printing Technologies as an Approach towards Designing Sustainable Affordable Housing Units." Design Engineering, 5, 2292-2311.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352357711_3D_Printing_Technologies_as_an_Approach_Towards_Designing_Sustainable_Affordable_Housing_Units.
3. Aghimien, D., Aigbavboa, C., Aghimien, L., Thwala, W.D. and Ndlovu, L. (2020), "Making a case for 3D printing for housing delivery in South Africa", International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, Vol. 13 No. 4, pp. 565-581. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHMA-11-2019-0111.
4. Beyhan, F. Arslan Selçuk, S. (2018). 3D Printing in Architecture: One Step Closer to a Sustainable Built Environment. In: Fırat, S. Kinuthia, J. Abu-Tair, A. (eds) Proceedings of 3rd International Sustainable Buildings Symposium (ISBS 2017). ISBS 2017. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 6. Springer, Cham.  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63709-9_20.
5. Camacho, D. D. Clayton,P. O'Brien, W. J. Seepersad, C. Juenger, M. Ferron, R. & Salamone, S. (2018). "Applications of additive manufacturing in the construction industry–A forward-looking review." Automation in construction, 89, 110-119.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2017.12.031.
6. Carletta, J. (1996). "Assessing agreement on classification tasks: the kappa statistic." Computational Linguistics, 22, 249-254.
7. Davydenko, V. A. and N. A. Melyushchenko (2022). "INNOVATIVE CONSTRUCTION METHODS." Innovative technologies in construction and management of infrastructure technical state. Сборник научных трудов IV Всероссийской национальной научно-практической конференции.
8. Du Plessis, C. (2002). Agenda 21 for sustainable construction in developing countries. CSIR Report BOU E, 204, 2-5.
9. El-Sayegh, S. L. Romdhane and S. Manjikian (2020). "A critical review of 3D printing in construction: Benefits, challenges, and risks." Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, 20, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43452-020-00038-w.
10. García-Alvarado, R. Moroni-Orellana, G. & Banda-Pérez, P. (2021). Architectural Evaluation of 3D-Printed Buildings. Buildings, 11(6), 254. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11060254.
11. García-Alvarado, R. Moroni-Orellana, G. & Banda, P. (2022). Development of Variable Residential Buildings with 3D-Printed Walls. Buildings, 12(11), 1796. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12111796.
12. Hossain, M. A. Zhumabekova, A. Paul, S. C. & Kim, J. R. (2020). "A review of 3D printing in construction and its impact on the labor market." Sustainability, 12(20), 1-21.
13. Khajavi, S. H. Tetik, M. Mohite, A. Peltokorpi, A. Li, M. Weng, Y. & Holmström, J. (2021). Additive Manufacturing in the Construction Industry: The Comparative Competitiveness of 3D Concrete Printing. Applied Sciences, 11(9), 3865. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11093865.
14. Khoshnevis, B. Hwang, D. Ya, K.T. & Yeh, Z. (2006). "Mega-scale fabrication by contour crafting." International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 1(3), 301-320. http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJISE.2006.009791.
15. Lojanica, V., Colic-Damjanovic, V. -M.  & Jankovic, N. (2018). "Housing of the Future: Housing Design of the Fourth Industrial Revolution," 2018 5th International Symposium on Environment-Friendly Energies and Applications (EFEA), Rome, Italy, 2018, pp. 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1109/EFEA.2018.8617094.
16. Moretti, M. (2023). WASP in the Edge of 3D Printing. In 3D Printing for Construction with Alternative Materials (pp. 57-65). Springer
17. Nadarajah, N. (2018). "Development of concrete 3D printing."
18. Ngo, T. D. Kashani, A. R. Imbalzano, G. Nguyen, K. T. Q. & Hui, D. (2018). "Additive manufacturing (3D printing): A review of materials, methods, applications and challenges." Composites Part B: Engineering, 143, 172-196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2018.02.012.
19. Page, M. J. J. E. McKenzie, P. M. Bossuyt, I. Boutron, T. C. Hoffmann, C. D. Mulrow, L. Shamseer, J. M. Tetzlaff, E. A. Akl and S. E. Brennan (2021). "The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews." BMJ, 372:n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71.
20. Perkins, I. & Skitmore, M. (2015). Three-dimensional printing in the construction industry: A review. International Journal of Construction Management, 15(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2015.1012136
21. Pooya, A. Chaghoushi, A. J. Shokohyar, S. & karimizand, M. (2020). The Model of Challenges of smart contract based on blockchain technology and distributed ledger using meta-synthesis research method. 9 (03).
22. Puzatova, A. Shakor, P. Laghi, V. & Dmitrieva, M. (2022). Large-Scale 3D Printing for Construction Application by Means of Robotic Arm and Gantry 3D Printer: A Review. Buildings, 12(11), 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12112023.
23. Sandelowski, M. and J. Barroso (2006). Handbook for synthesizing qualitative research, springer publishing company.
24. Summary, E. (2019). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2018 Revision.
25. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2018 Revision (ST/ESA/SER.A/420). New York: United Nations.
26. Tay, Y. W. D. Panda, B. Paul, S. C. Noor Mohamed, N. A. Tan, M. J. & Leong, K. F. (2017). 3D printing trends in building and construction industry: a review. Virtual and Physical Prototyping, 12(3), 261–276. https://doi.org/10.1080/17452759.2017.1326724.
27. Valente, M., Sibai, A., & Sambucci, M. (2019). Extrusion-based additive manufacturing of concrete products: revolutionizing and remodeling the construction industry. Journal of Composites Science, 3(3), 88. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs3030088
28. Xu, W. Huang, S. Han, D. Zhang, Z. Gao, Y. Feng, P. & Zhang, D. (2022). "Toward automated construction: The design-to-printing workflow for a robotic in-situ 3D printed house." Case Studies in Construction Materials, 17(1): e01442. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01442.