EDITOR ' S QUESTION

INVENTING FUTURIST , EXPONENTIAL THINKER AND MODERN RESILIENCE EXPERT FOR SINGULARITY GROUP

1 . Has the process and the design been optimised for human use and human satisfaction ( ie can builders work with it , do the inhabitants aspire to it , does it feel like ‘ home ’)

2 . Is the energy source circular and sustainable ? Are the printing materials circular and sustainable ?

If we are talking about 3D printing new useful building parts or structures from waste materials – say creating shelter in a slum from plastic waste , powered by organic waste – this is a game-changer . If we are talking about the Wolf Ranch 3D neighbourhood in Texas , printed using ‘ Lavacrete ’, I would want to know how the life cycle of that material and that energy cost pans out . I understand there is a labour saving but in terms of gamechanging and sustainability , the more interesting aspect of developments like this is the ability for AI to help with site optimisation for sustainable design and light touch building , along with material efficiencies and better ways of minimising and upcycling waste . The most sustainable role for 3D printing in terms of affordable housing is the ability for decentralised or ‘ neighbourhood ’ printers , running on renewable energy like organic waste or wind / solar , to print components that make building and repair easier . Ideally printing from local renewable or waste materials . For instance , Indian architect Sourabh Padke created incredible structures in an Indian slum using plastic bottles to create roof tiles , gutters and downspouts to bring clean rainwater into the buildings . Imagine if communities could feed plastic bags into a local printer to create long-lasting joints and other plumbing fittings that make widespread rainwater harvesting possible or printing recycled plastic P-traps , to build safe sewer systems . We already see car enthusiasts printing rare non-structural parts on demand . I believe the most equitable impact of 3D printing will be low-cost , low-maintenance printers that can upcycle waste materials into useful building components , which allow local communities to build longlasting , sustainable houses .

The hurdles to this kind of game-changing transformation include education of local builders and community on the use and benefits of such tech , lobby groups from the current power holders including part suppliers , construction monopolies , conventional material suppliers , and regulators who only support traditional products and materials . As with any decentralised technology , a power shift to the people upsets the status quo .

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