3D Print Homes International Launches Crowdfunding Campaign to 3D Print Houses for the World’s Homeless

If you are reading this article, the odds are that you have a home to live in, you have a roof to shelter you from the rain, walls to protect you from the cold, and a comfortable bed to sleep in each night. Unfortunately though, hundreds of millions of people around the world cannot say the same. Instead of looking forward to that weekly paycheck so that they can buy that fancy pair of shoes, video game console, or all-inclusive stay at a luxury resort, these people live day-to-day hoping and praying that they can find food and shelter.

We have seen several companies and individuals propose the idea of 3D printing houses. To some extent, this has already been done. In China they have 3D printed parts of buildings that can be put together to form very small houses. A man in Minnesota, named Andrey Rudenko, has already 3D printed a miniature castle, and has plans to print a full size house next. Architect Adam Kuchner plans to 3D print an entire estate in New York early next year, which includes a 2,400 square foot home, a swimming pool, and pool house. In Northern Amsterdam, they are 3D printing pieces of canal houses which are then being assembled to form entire homes. There is even a company referred to as the WASProject which plans to 3D print houses in third world countries, using local clay as the primary material.

Most of these projects remain ideas which have yet to materialize. The hope is there, but we still are waiting to see something concrete develop. Well, today might be the start of something that could lead to a more mainstream approach to the 3D printing of homes.

A company called 3D Print Homes International, based in the United Kingdom, has launched a Kickstarter campaign in hopes of raising £500,000 to begin building 3D printers capable of creating large housing complexes, and then using these printers to solve one of the world’s most glaring issues: homelessness.

“Over 2,900,000,000 people in the world, are homeless or live in poor housing. We can solve this problem using 3D Print technology,” explain the campaign details. “With this innovative building method, using contour crafting and layer by layer fast-drying concrete, entire housing estates could be produced in a matter of a few weeks and one fully built home within a day!”

The company, run by the founder of CNSTRCTN International, Fabian Jean-Baptiste, looks to use the £500,000 they hope to raise to build a “state of the art 3D Print Home” 3D printer. They plan on establishing an office in London and then targeting countries all over the globe, especially those which are in the greatest need for affordable homes.

“If our campaign is a success we will be showcase our printer in London, raise additional capital from the sale of additional printers, we will make for other interested investors, before sending one 3D Home printer to each region to implement our objective, to build as many homes as possible,” the company explains.

Backer levels range from a £50 contribution, which will get you a certificate stating that you contributed to this cause, up to £5,000, which includes several different options to choose from. £500,000 is a very steep funding goal for a company that has yet to show a product. The idea is an excellent one, and if successful it would go a long way in helping to solve one of the world’s pressing issues. Do you think they will reach their goal? Have you contributed to this campaign? Discuss in the 3D Print Homes forum thread on 3DPB.com.  Be sure to watch their promo video below.