Revolutionizing affordable housing in Africa: A comprehensive technical and sustainability study of 3D-printing technology

Abstract

The global challenge of providing affordable and sustainable housing, particularly in Africa's intensified housing crisis, has spurred interest in transformative solutions such as 3D-printing technology. This research addresses a significant gap in understanding the technical and sustainability characteristics of 3D-printed housing, by comprehensively assessing a full-size 3D-printed house. Beyond examining building performance, a thorough life cycle assessment quantifies the whole life cycle carbon and cost, comparing the 3D-printed house with its conventional counterpart. The findings underscore the superior performance of 3D-printed housing in both technical and sustainability aspects. A 48 % reduction in the carbon footprint emphasizes the environmental sustainability of 3D-printed house. Despite a 70 % reduction in construction duration, the initial costs of technology and imported proprietary materials contribute to a higher life cycle cost for the 3D-printed house (381 %) in Africa.These results affirm the potential of 3D-printing as a sustainable and efficient mechanism for revolutionizing the African housing sector by improving performance and expediting delivery. The study provides valuable insights for housing stakeholders, advocating for the judicious use of 3D-printing and local bio-mediated geo-materials to address African housing crises, enhance residents' quality of life, and, consequently, sustain African cities and society.