It’s no secret that I’m an avid follower when it comes to world of 3D printing, as is everyone here at Garment Printing. The thought of being able to create 3D objects from a printing machine – such as clothing, objects and now even buildings – is truly fascinating and this is one of the reasons why I’ve been keeping a keen eye (and ear) on Dubai since I first saw the renderings of a new 3D printed office building which were proposed.
The idea was to 3D print and build ‘the world’s first fully functional 3D printed building’ and I’m happy to say that it’s finally been built – and it’s actually an incredible piece of architecture!
On the day of opening, the office building was treated to a special visit from the Crown Prince of Dubai Hi Highness Shiekh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who said:
“We announce today the opening of the first 3D printed office in the world, after less than a month of launching Dubai 3D printing strategy which showcases a modern model of construction. This is an experience we present to the world on utilising future technology in people’s lives.”
The building, which took an incredible 17 days to print, used a specialised 3D printer was used in a special cement mixer and each layer was printed individually. In total, the building cost roughly $140,000 (just under £96,500). Once the exterior of the building was printed, the interior and exterior details were then added to the construction.
The building also represented a 50% saving on normal labour costs as one person was employed to monitor the 3D printer, another 7 people handled the installation of the building components, and there were a further 10 electricians and specialists who handled all of the engineerings. The building was creating using Chinese company WinSun’s tilt-up technology, where the floors, walls, and the ceiling are all printed on their sides in 2D.
The separate constructions were then tilted vertically and fitted together.
The office measures 2,700 square foot and was originally announced in June 2015. The buildings purpose will be to showcase the United Arab Emirate’s commitment to innovation. The design also helps promote the UAE as a leader in the field of 3D printing.
“We implement what we plan and we pursue actions, not theories. The rapidly changing world requires us to accelerate our pace of development as history does not recognise plans but achievements.”
The inside of the building features a spacious open plan with modern features and energy saving lighting. It initial purpose is to house the Dubai Feature Foundation. It will also provide a workspace and, in the future, it’s expected that it will be used to host exhibitions, workshops, and various other events.
Why is this news interesting to us?
Well, we’re always on the lookout for new and innovative printing techniques and new services that we’re able to offer our customers – such as all over T-Shirt printing (also known as Dye Sublimation). With this technique, we’re able to create truly customised T Shirts which are printed all over with your designs to provide a truly flawless and customised look.
We’ve also been closely following the development and the progression of the 3D printed fashion world where we’ve taken a look at how 3D printed clothing has been created and what’s next in the world of creating clothing through the 3D printing method – and also if we’ll be able to print on them!
