Four years ago, experts in the construction 3D printing industry predicted a largest market share in Saudi Arabia, compared to other sectors where 3D Printing can be applied. The prediction came along the completion of a prototype that would enable authorities to envision the transformation of the housing industry using 3D printing technology.
Today, the city of Riyadh has its first 3D printed building sold by Dar Al Arkan, a real estate development company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). 3D printed in just 26 days and compliant with the building codes, the villa features smart applications that control various functions of the house, including doors, locks, AC, lighting and has 9 solar panels on the roof, which generate enough electricity to power many of the villa’s systems, including lighting and heating.
Also, heat-reflecting nano-technology was used for painting the exterior walls, which makes the villa up to 40% more heat-resistant than traditional buildings. In addition, the exterior of the house is four times stronger that any regular-built one.
Wael al Hagan, 3D construction printing project manager from Dar Al Arkan said: “Our efforts are focused on developing the kingdom’s real estate sector by integrating the latest trends and technologies, drawn from global best practices to enhance our industry locally and deliver on the objectives of vision 2030. The introduction of 3D construction printing enables us to focus on greater flexibility of design, strengthen productivity and achieve higher cost efficiency”.
The level of design flexibility, made possible using cutting-edge 3D printing technology, allows for easy and quick customization of finishes and styles, enabling Dar Al Arkan to offer its future clients a truly personalized experience. With this feature, the company aims to create homes that are tailored to the unique tastes and preferences of their clients, setting a new standard in the real estate industry.
The project was executed using local materials and the D.fab solution developed by Cemex and COBOD. This solution allows COBOD customers to use 99% local and inexpensive materials, while only relying on 1% sourced from a central location.
The project by Dar Al Arkan has not happened unnoticed by the local authorities. Commenting on the use of new technology The Ministry of Housing in Saudi Arabia said: “In Saudi, we are rapidly developing in the construction sector through our Building Technology Initiative and implementing new technologies to enable 70% of the Saudi population to own their homes by 2030. Our strategy is to revolutionize the way people think about home through smart futuristic methods”.
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