See inside a new 1,550-square-foot 3D-printed home in Virginia
Brittany Chang
![See inside a new 1,550-square-foot 3D-printed home in Virginia](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-92882024%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-434546%2Fsee-inside-a-new-1550-square-foot-3d-printed-home-in-virginia.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Virginia Housing
- Virginia Housing and its partners unveiled a 3D-printed home in Richmond, Virginia.
- The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home sold for $235,000.
Virginia's latest 3D-printed family home has been unveiled, this time in Richmond.
![Virginia](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882178,width-700,height-525,imgsize-226842/virginiaaposs-latest-3d-printed-family-home-has-been-unveiled-this-time-in-richmond-.jpg)
Virginia Housing
But if you're in the market for a home in the state's capital city, you're already too late.
![But if you](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882171,width-700,height-525,imgsize-184292/but-if-youaposre-in-the-market-for-a-home-in-the-stateaposs-capital-city-youaposre-already-too-late-.jpg)
Virginia Housing
The home — a construction project spearheaded by Virginia Housing — has already been sold for $235,000 to a buyer who received a grant to help with the cost.
![The home — a construction project spearheaded by Virginia Housing — has already been sold for $235,000 to a buyer who received a grant to help with the cost.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882170,width-700,height-525,imgsize-259470/the-home-x2014-a-construction-project-spearheaded-by-virginia-housing-x2014-has-already-been-sold-for-235000-to-a-buyer-who-received-a-grant-to-help-with-the-cost-.jpg)
Virginia Housing
The off-white house is the first 3D-printed home in the city, according to Virginia Housing …
![The off-white house is the first 3D-printed home in the city, according to Virginia Housing …](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882167,width-700,height-525,imgsize-386648/the-off-white-house-is-the-first-3d-printed-home-in-the-city-according-to-virginia-housing-x2026.jpg)
Virginia Housing
… and was built with help from partners like Virginia Tech, Alquist, general contractors, and housing nonprofits.
![… and was built with help from partners like Virginia Tech, Alquist, general contractors, and housing nonprofits.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882165,width-700,height-525,imgsize-64800/x2026-and-was-built-with-help-from-partners-like-virginia-tech-alquist-general-contractors-and-housing-nonprofits-.jpg)
Virginia Housing
The 1,550-square-foot home was under construction for about a year before it was finally completed in late June.
![The 1,550-square-foot home was under construction for about a year before it was finally completed in late June.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882159,width-700,height-525,imgsize-223752/the-1550-square-foot-home-was-under-construction-for-about-a-year-before-it-was-finally-completed-in-late-june-.jpg)
Virginia Housing
But don't expect a fully printed home.
![But don](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882157,width-700,height-525,imgsize-132874/but-donapost-expect-a-fully-printed-home-.jpg)
Virginia Housing
Like almost all 3D-printed houses, the exterior walls of the Richmond home are the only printed components.
![Like almost all 3D-printed houses, the exterior walls of the Richmond home are the only printed components.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882153,width-700,height-525,imgsize-110066/like-almost-all-3d-printed-houses-the-exterior-walls-of-the-richmond-home-are-the-only-printed-components-.jpg)
Virginia Housing
The remainder of the home — like its foundation, roof, and interior walls — were built "traditionally."
![The remainder of the home — like its foundation, roof, and interior walls — were built "traditionally."](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882147,width-700,height-525,imgsize-121254/the-remainder-of-the-home-x2014-like-its-foundation-roof-and-interior-walls-x2014-were-built-quottraditionally-quot.jpg)
Virginia Housing
To create these unique concrete walls, the team used Danish construction-tech company COBOD's popular BOD2 printer …
![To create these unique concrete walls, the team used Danish construction-tech company COBOD](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882139,width-700,height-525,imgsize-434546/to-create-these-unique-concrete-walls-the-team-used-danish-construction-tech-company-cobodaposs-popular-bod2-printer-x2026.jpg)
Virginia Housing
… which has also been deployed for projects like a 400-square-foot concrete home in Denmark.
![… which has also been deployed for projects like a 400-square-foot concrete home in Denmark.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882132,width-700,height-525,imgsize-367438/x2026-which-has-also-been-deployed-for-projects-like-a-400-square-foot-concrete-home-in-denmark-.jpg)
3DCP Group
Source: Insider
Moving a printer of this magnitude from Denmark to the US is an expensive procedure.
![Moving a printer of this magnitude from Denmark to the US is an expensive procedure.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882127,width-700,height-525,imgsize-95402/moving-a-printer-of-this-magnitude-from-denmark-to-the-us-is-an-expensive-procedure-.jpg)
Virginia Housing
To alleviate this financial pressure, Virginia Tech's Center for Housing Research used a $500,000 grant from Virginia Housing to help pay for the printer's delivery, according to a press release.
![To alleviate this financial pressure, Virginia Tech](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882120,width-700,height-525,imgsize-49330/to-alleviate-this-financial-pressure-virginia-techaposs-center-for-housing-research-used-a-500000-grant-from-virginia-housing-to-help-pay-for-the-printeraposs-delivery-according-to-a-press-release-.jpg)
Virginia Housing
Despite this hefty investment, the walls' naturally layered and textured appearance are the only visible reminder of the 3D printer's work.
![Despite this hefty investment, the walls](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882116,width-700,height-525,imgsize-50516/despite-this-hefty-investment-the-wallsapos-naturally-layered-and-textured-appearance-are-the-only-visible-reminder-of-the-3d-printeraposs-work-.jpg)
Virginia Housing
Besides this, the rest of the building looks like any traditional suburban house.
![Besides this, the rest of the building looks like any traditional suburban house.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882110,width-700,height-525,imgsize-229790/besides-this-the-rest-of-the-building-looks-like-any-traditional-suburban-house-.jpg)
Virginia Housing
Inside, there are three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a covered front porch.
![Inside, there are three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a covered front porch.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882107,width-700,height-525,imgsize-67778/inside-there-are-three-bedrooms-two-bathrooms-and-a-covered-front-porch-.jpg)
Virginia Housing
The fully electric home also has amenities like a laundry room, large kitchen with an island …
![The fully electric home also has amenities like a laundry room, large kitchen with an island …](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882100,width-700,height-525,imgsize-110116/the-fully-electric-home-also-has-amenities-like-a-laundry-room-large-kitchen-with-an-island-x2026.jpg)
Virginia Housing
… plenty of windows in the living room, and smart home amenities.
![… plenty of windows in the living room, and smart home amenities.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882096,width-700,height-525,imgsize-213702/x2026-plenty-of-windows-in-the-living-room-and-smart-home-amenities-.jpg)
Virginia Housing
It's everything you could ever want in a home, just built in a more unique manner.
![It](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882092,width-700,height-525,imgsize-69372/itaposs-everything-you-could-ever-want-in-a-home-just-built-in-a-more-unique-manner-.jpg)
Virginia Housing
And whether you love it or hate it, 3D printed homes seem to be here to stay.
![And whether you love it or hate it, 3D printed homes seem to be here to stay.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882090,width-700,height-525,imgsize-293180/and-whether-you-love-it-or-hate-it-3d-printed-homes-seem-to-be-here-to-stay-.jpg)
Virginia Housing
Proponents of construction-tech say 3D printing can build homes quickly, efficiently, and some day, significantly more inexpensively when compared to traditional homebuilding.
![Proponents of construction-tech say 3D printing can build homes quickly, efficiently, and some day, significantly more inexpensively when compared to traditional homebuilding.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882084,width-700,height-525,imgsize-102756/proponents-of-construction-tech-say-3d-printing-can-build-homes-quickly-efficiently-and-some-day-significantly-more-inexpensively-when-compared-to-traditional-homebuilding-.jpg)
Virginia Housing
It's still a budding construction method, but 3D printing is now increasingly being used to create more financially accessible homes and buildings.
![It](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882083,width-700,height-525,imgsize-265666/itaposs-still-a-budding-construction-method-but-3d-printing-is-now-increasingly-being-used-to-create-more-financially-accessible-homes-and-buildings-.jpg)
Alquist
In December 2021, Habitat for Humanity spent 28 hours 3D printing the walls of a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Williamsburg, Virginia, about an hour east of Richmond.
![In December 2021, Habitat for Humanity spent 28 hours 3D printing the walls of a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Williamsburg, Virginia, about an hour east of Richmond.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882078,width-700,height-525,imgsize-211056/in-december-2021-habitat-for-humanity-spent-28-hours-3d-printing-the-walls-of-a-three-bedroom-two-bathroom-home-in-williamsburg-virginia-about-an-hour-east-of-richmond-.jpg)
Alquist
Source: Insider
And in April, nonprofit Thinking Huts — which prints schools in developing countries — unveiled its first prototype in Madagascar.
![And in April, nonprofit Thinking Huts — which prints schools in developing countries — unveiled its first prototype in Madagascar.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882070,width-700,height-525,imgsize-569494/and-in-april-nonprofit-thinking-huts-x2014-which-prints-schools-in-developing-countries-x2014-unveiled-its-first-prototype-in-madagascar-.jpg)
BOTO Friddet
Source: Insider
A one-off home and school may not seem like much, but this could just be the beginning of the proliferated use of 3D printers to build homes, which is "now one of the many tools available to us to help increase housing inventory," Susan Dewey, CEO of Virginia Housing, said in a press release.
![A one-off home and school may not seem like much, but this could just be the beginning of the proliferated use of 3D printers to build homes, which is "now one of the many tools available to us to help increase housing inventory," Susan Dewey, CEO of Virginia Housing, said in a press release.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882059,width-700,height-525,imgsize-309266/a-one-off-home-and-school-may-not-seem-like-much-but-this-could-just-be-the-beginning-of-the-proliferated-use-of-3d-printers-to-build-homes-which-is-quotnow-one-of-the-many-tools-available-to-us-to-help-increase-housing-inventoryquot-susan-dewey-ceo-of-virginia-housing-said-in-a-press-release-.jpg)
Virginia Housing
In October 2021, housing giant Lennar announced its plans to team up with construction-tech startup Icon to build a 3D-printed 100-home development in Austin, Texas.
![In October 2021, housing giant Lennar announced its plans to team up with construction-tech startup Icon to build a 3D-printed 100-home development in Austin, Texas.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882053,width-700,height-525,imgsize-128096/in-october-2021-housing-giant-lennar-announced-its-plans-to-team-up-with-construction-tech-startup-icon-to-build-a-3d-printed-100-home-development-in-austin-texas-.jpg)
Icon, Lennar, BIG
And in late April, Alquist — which printed the Richmond, Virginia home's exterior walls — unveiled plans to build an additional 200 printed homes in the next five years throughout southwest Virginia.
![And in late April, Alquist — which printed the Richmond, Virginia home](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882047,width-700,height-525,imgsize-216200/and-in-late-april-alquist-x2014-which-printed-the-richmond-virginia-homeaposs-exterior-walls-x2014-unveiled-plans-to-build-an-additional-200-printed-homes-in-the-next-five-years-throughout-southwest-virginia-.jpg)
Alquist
A few hundred buildings won't satisfy Virginia's housing demands, but "the need is so great, Alquist wants to make an impact as quickly as possible," Zack Mannheimer, Alquist's CEO, told Insider in May.
![A few hundred buildings won](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-92882043,width-700,height-525,imgsize-255468/a-few-hundred-buildings-wonapost-satisfy-virginiaaposs-housing-demands-but-quotthe-need-is-so-great-alquist-wants-to-make-an-impact-as-quickly-as-possiblequot-zack-mannheimer-alquistaposs-ceo-told-insider-in-may-.jpg)
Alquist
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