3D Printed House Made of Earth Appears... Japanese Company Says "Final Goal is Mars"

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A house is being built with a 3D printer using soil collected from nearby mountains as the material.
[Photo by Livework]

The Kamp C project, which appeared in Belgium in December 2020, is the world's first house built 'in one go' using a three-dimensional (3D) printer. This two-story house, 8 meters high with a floor area of 90㎡, was constructed in just three weeks using the largest 3D concrete printer in Europe. The primary material for the 3D printer house was concrete.

In Japan, technology has emerged to build houses using 3D printers with soil commonly found in the surrounding environment. On the 11th, the online edition of Toyo Keizai introduced Lib Work, a housing company located in Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.

In January, Lib Work unveiled the 'Lib Earth House,' a 3D printer model house primarily made from soil. Until now, 3D printer houses developed in Japan have only used concrete, making this the first 3D printer house in Japan to use soil as the main raw material.

3D Printer House Made of Earth Completed by Japan's Livwork
[Photo by Livwork]

The materials consist of 70% soil, combined with other natural materials such as fir, straw, lime, and some cement. Since raw materials like soil do not incur processing or transportation costs, the cost burden is minimal. It is environmentally friendly and has the advantage of a short construction period. However, there is room for improvement in earthquake resistance, durability, and insulation. Although there are concerns that the surface of the walls may crack, the company explains that there is no problem with strength.

The Kamp C project, which appeared in Belgium in December 2020, is the world's first house made 'in one go' using a three-dimensional (3D) printer. The material used is concrete.
[Photo by Kamp C]

Lib Work plans to complete a 100㎡ 3D printer model house equipped with LDK, bathroom, bath, and living room within this year, aiming for general sales by 2025. LDK is a Japanese-style English abbreviation for Living, Dining, and Kitchen. It can be used in glamping facilities or sauna facilities.

Lib Work stated, "Although soil from Awajishima was used in this model house, the goal is to develop materials tailored to the soil of each region in the future," adding, "Ultimately, the goal is to build houses on Mars using 3D printers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.