德克萨斯3D印刷公司ICON已经揭示了迄今为止在德克萨斯州奥斯汀的3D印刷房屋最大的3D印刷房屋社区的计划。
Partnering with a leading US homebuilderLennarand architecture firmBIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, ICON will deploy its 3D printing robotics technology, software, and advanced materials to construct the homes, which are slated to break ground next year.
The project comes off the back of Lennar’s investment in ICON’s recent$207 million financing round, in a bid to deliver more affordable, technology-driven homes to meet the region’s rising housing demand.
“Labor and material shortages are two of the biggest factors pushing the dream of home ownership out of reach for many American families,” said Eric Feder, President ofLENX, the investing arm within Lennar. “Lennar has always expanded the boundaries of technological innovation to keep quality homes affordable and 3D printing is an immensely encouraging approach.
“We are excited to collaborate with ICON to develop solutions to emerging challenges in the coming years.”
ICON’s 3D printing construction technology
Using its proprietary Vulcan 3D printer, ICON has so far built more than two dozen homes in the US, and plenty more abroad. One such project includes partnering with non-profitNew Story建立拉丁美洲community of 3D printed housesback in 2019.
The firm has also worked with the US military to展示3D打印的军事应用，构建了3D printed barracks部队在训练。图标显示applications for its construction technology within aerospace, too, having produced the“世界的第一个” 3D打印的月球发射台earlier this year, alongside working withNASAto create asimulated martian environmentand anoff-world construction system利用其技术。
Anupgraded “next-generation system”of the Vulcan was announced earlier this year, effectively enabling the faster and more flexible construction of homes compared to conventional building methods.
Icon的新机器的构建量和打印速度较大，其新机器的速度是其前身的两倍，并且能够打印最大3,000平方英尺的结构。该机器的提高功能使该公司在过去几个月中可以解决更雄心勃勃的应用程序，包括建造four multi-storey buildingsin East Austin which it has since listed on the US housing market.
From dozens to hundreds of homes
ICON的最新项目“ 100家社区”将于2022年开始，目的是建立迄今为止最大的3D印刷房屋社区。
BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group will co-design the homes, while ICON will 3D print the buildings’ first floors using its Vulcan 3D printer and proprietary Lavacrete material, which combines typical Portland cement with advanced additives to help it survive extreme weather. The air space between the interior and exterior concrete 3D printed walls will be injected with spray foam insulation in order to provide a comfortable environment for residents.
Once ICON has 3D printed the first floor of a home, the finishes will be completed by Lennar using traditional wood-frame construction techniques. According to ICON Co-founder and CEO Jason Ballard, ICON is seeking to respond to the global housing crisis by increasing the supply of homes while improving sustainability within the construction sector.
“Construction-scale 3D printing not only delivers higher-quality homes faster and more affordably, but fleets of printers can change the way that entire communities are built for the better,” he said. “The US faces a deficit of approximately five million new homes, so there is a profound need to swiftly increase supply without compromising quality, beauty, or sustainability, and that is exactly the strength of our technology.”
图标希望3D打印能使新房屋的建造能够比传统的施工方法更便宜，更快。目前，图标可以在大约一周的时间内打印3D一楼的一楼。
巴拉德继续说：“这是Icon与Lennar合作的荣誉和巨大的里程碑，Lennar是一位精英顶级房屋建筑商，致力于创新。”“我们认为，这将是社区规模发展史和未来闯入现在的流域时刻。”
Big-Bjarke Ingels Group的合伙人Martin Voelkle还认为，随着建筑业继续大规模采用该技术，3D打印有可能“彻底改变建筑环境”。
“By partnering with ICON and Lennar, we are able to see this new technology roll out to the widest possible audience,” he added. “The 3D printed architecture and the photovoltaic roofs are innovations that are significant steps towards reducing waste in the construction process, as well as towards making our homes more resilient, sustainable, and energy self-sufficient.”
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特色图片显示在街道层面上，100个家庭社区的外观。图像通过图标。
