Ireland unveils ‘Europe’s first’ 3D-printed concrete social housing

A Cobod printer lays concrete walls for the Ireland-based housing development. (Image: Cobod)

The 3D concrete printed (3DCP) dwellings are in Grange Close, Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. The 330m² footprint includes three three-bedroom houses.

Designed to meet Eurocode 6 masonry standard, the boundaries of the housing development are composed of cavity walls: two 10cm-thick skins with a 150mm cavity in-between. Cobod, the Denmark-based 3D printer provider, said the walls were constructed without reinforcement and meets EN206, Eurocode 6 for unreinforced masonry construction and ISO/ASTM (52939:2023) standards.

“The use of the 3DCP technology meant 35% faster construction and completion in just 132 days compared to conventional methods requiring more than 200 days, with the 3D printed superstructure completed in just 12 printing days,” claimed Cobod. “Approximately 50% of the time savings came directly from 3D printing the wall system.”

A 3D concrete printed social housing development in Ireland. It’s said to be Europe’s “first” of its kind. (Image: Cobod)

The printing firm added that remaining savings were achieved alongside what could be called a modular approach. Referring to “the precision of 3D construction printing”, Cobod said it was able to employ “seamless integration of other building components – such as partition walls, floor systems, and trusses – to already be considered during the planning and preparation phases, resulting in a more efficient construction process.”

Cobod launches third 3D printer model The BOD3 is currently deployed in the global market