AI-generated summary
The construction industry is embracing innovative methods such as 3D printing of homes and collaborative urban design. 3D printing allows for rapid, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly building processes. For example, the Valencian startup BeMore offers customized 3D-printed houses for about 50,000 euros, built within 24 hours on the client’s land. In China, advancements are even more impressive, with companies like WinSu able to print multiple large houses in a day and even construct five-story buildings. This technology reduces construction costs, uses less polluting and recycled materials, minimizes environmental impact, optimizes energy use, and incorporates novel materials like translucent and self-repairing concrete. Experts predict that the use of recycled materials will grow as a key future trend in sustainable construction.
Alongside technological advances, new collaborative modes of urban design are emerging. These involve the combined efforts of companies, universities, governments, and citizens—known as the Quadruple Helix model—to create urban plans better tailored to community needs. Initiatives such as the Smart Social City Knowledge Centers in Spain exemplify this approach, fostering cooperation among diverse stakeholders to improve city planning and design. This participatory model leverages technology and community engagement to build smarter, more responsive urban environments that reflect the interests of all inhabitants.
There are new modes of construction: 3D printing of homes or collaborative design of cities.
Get to know some of these new modes of construction: the 3D printing of homes or the collaborative design of cities.
3D Printing
“Space matters, so you have to use it more efficiently. Soon we will be talking about houses built with 3D printing in the United States,” continues Anita Roth.
The 3D printing of homes is already a reality. The Valencian startup BeMore, for example, sells them for about 50,000 euros: the firm prints the personalized design by the client on the land that he provides in about 24 hours.
China is very advanced in this field: four years ago a 3D printer was presented capable of building ten houses of 200 square meters in a single day. The responsible company, WinSu, has even overcome the obstacle of height (this type of prefabricated housing is usually horizontal) by printing a five-storey building.
The 3D printing of homes allows:
- Lower costs.
- Use less polluting and even recycled materials.
- Much less pollution in the construction process.
- Optimize the energy expenditure of the house.
- Use new materials such as translucent hormone and self-repairable hormone.
“The use of recycled materials in design and construction is one of the great future trends that we see in the medium and long term,” says Chris Johnson, executive director for the Middle East of the architecture, urbanism and design firm Gensler.
Collaborative design modes
The emergence of new technologies and the greater involvement of actors in their environment are resulting in collaborative urban design experiences. The involvement of the public, private and citizens themselves can help to develop urban planning better suited to the needs of city dwellers.
The innovative initiatives of Quadruple Hélice (companies, universities, governments and citizens) around urban design are multiplying: one of the most conceptually advanced initiatives worldwide is that of the Smart Social City Knowledge Centers, promoted by the Spanish company Smart Social City.
The following video briefly explains the concept:
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