Casa Semilla: Chile’s first 3D printed house completed

Introduction:Chile faces a growing housing problem that affects hundreds of thousands of people. By the end of 2023, data from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development showed that the country faced a housing shortage of more than 500,000 homes. Rising construction costs and land scarcity exacerbate this dilemma, highlighting the urgent need for rapid and cost-effective construction solutions. 3D concrete printing technology has thus emerged, offering new possibilities for solving the housing problem.

On November 3, 2024, according to the Resource Library, the Chilean construction industry reached a historic milestone. The country’s first 3D printed house, Casa Semilla, has been completed in the Bio Bio region. The construction of Casa Semilla is the result of a collaboration between the University of Biobio and the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID) and reflects the deep integration of technology and housing solutions.

The construction of Casa Semilla’s walls took only 29 hours, plus two days of installation. The significant improvement in construction efficiency has laid the foundation for future construction. The house was designed according to the principles of circular economy and carbon neutrality, making it a model of sustainable development. At the same time, it has seismic resistance and excellent thermal properties, making it suitable for construction in different regions of Chile, especially considering the country’s frequent seismic activity and its complex geographical environment.

One of the important supports of this technological advancement is the Atenea-UBB industrial printer, which is one of the most advanced 3D printing equipment in Latin America. With the KUKA KR120 industrial robot, this equipment is financed by ANID and can achieve anything. from street furniture to various life-size prints for columns and walls.

The deployment of this technology, led by academics from the School of Architecture, Construction and Design at the University of Bio-Bio, has given Chile a leading position in the field of additively manufactured construction . As early as 2023, the team has successfully printed a 2.20 meter high surveillance cabin, demonstrating its robustness in various projects.

Casa Semilla is more than a prototype, it is a living vision of the future of architecture. The house will open to the public next year and aims to provide a platform for exploring practical applications of 3D printing in housing. In this way, more people and students will be able to closely observe this innovative technology that is expected to change the architectural model of Chile and promote the sustainable development of the construction sector.