Dubai Municipality (DM) unveiled the world’s largest 3D printed two-storey structure, entering the Guinness Book of World Records with the completion of the integrated 640m2 building project, which is 9.5m high.
The project was completed by 3D printing onsite using local components, in line with the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, to construct 25% of the buildings in Dubai with 3D printing technology by 2030.
Commenting on the achievement, director general of Dubai Municipality, Dawoud Al Hajri, said: “This project is a major turning point in the construction sector at the local and regional levels, and is based on the strategy of innovation in 3D printing technologies in construction, which in turn will increase the pace and speed of execution and completion of buildings in record time, and reduce construction costs, and contribute to the development of solutions to the demographics challenges by reducing the number of construction labour.”
Tests were conducted on the mixes of the printing materials to ensure that they fit the requirements for smoothness and pumping of the printer, as well as requirements of quality, consistency, and strength required to withstand the construction.
Al Hajri added: “The two-storey building has been designed and executed with a number of spaces that can be used as rooms or offices of different sizes. The walls are printed directly from the printer, unlike the traditional method of construction, which depends on the work of tightening wooden pieces with nuts and bolts, reinforcement, and pouring of concrete and making bricks.”
The building features geometrical wall printing, which increases the possibility of utilizing voids inside the wall to improve thermal insulation of the building, reduce energy consumption, as well as connect services within printed walls, including electricity, water, communications, air conditioning, and IT technologies.
The development and implementation of 3D printing construction technology aims to bolster Dubai’s sustainability and green building drive with the use of local materials, reduction of construction waste, and electronic printing based on engineering plans without human intervention.
