See the huge 3D-printer that built the walls of a 400-square-foot concrete tiny home in 22 hours
Brittany Chang
![See the huge 3D-printer that built the walls of a 400-square-foot concrete tiny home in 22 hours](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-93190127%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-393524%2Fsee-the-huge-3d-printer-that-built-the-walls-of-a-400-square-foot-concrete-tiny-home-in-22-hours.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
3DCP Group
- In May, Danish startup 3DCP Group unveiled its first build in Denmark: a 3D-printed tiny home.
- The concrete home was built in five weeks but COBOD's BOD2 system was only actively printing for 22 hours.
Several 3D printing construction-tech startups are now quietly dominating the antiquated home construction space.
![Several 3D printing construction-tech startups are now quietly dominating the antiquated home construction space.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190561,width-700,height-525,imgsize-300222/several-3d-printing-construction-tech-startups-are-now-quietly-dominating-the-antiquated-home-construction-space-.jpg)
3DCP Group
And the latest addition to this tech-forward scene has already made an international splash: Danish startup 3DCP Group's first build, a concrete tiny home with walls that were printed in 22 hours.
![And the latest addition to this tech-forward scene has already made an international splash: Danish startup 3DCP Group](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190554,width-700,height-525,imgsize-310320/and-the-latest-addition-to-this-tech-forward-scene-has-already-made-an-international-splash-danish-startup-3dcp-groupaposs-first-build-a-concrete-tiny-home-with-walls-that-were-printed-in-22-hours-.jpg)
3DCP Group
Source: Insider
Printable homes may sound like a futuristic and unattainable concept, but proponents are already making bold promises about tech's ability to slash construction time and costs.
![Printable homes may sound like a futuristic and unattainable concept, but proponents are already making bold promises about tech](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190543,width-700,height-525,imgsize-313862/printable-homes-may-sound-like-a-futuristic-and-unattainable-concept-but-proponents-are-already-making-bold-promises-about-techaposs-ability-to-slash-construction-time-and-costs-.jpg)
3DCP Group
Enthusiasts view printing systems as a potential answer to our ongoing housing shortage and affordability crisis.
![Enthusiasts view printing systems as a potential answer to our ongoing housing shortage and affordability crisis.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190532,width-700,height-525,imgsize-497716/enthusiasts-view-printing-systems-as-a-potential-answer-to-our-ongoing-housing-shortage-and-affordability-crisis-.jpg)
3DCP Group
Source: Insider
Home construction no longer has to be a year-long project.
![Home construction no longer has to be a year-long project.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190522,width-700,height-525,imgsize-767324/home-construction-no-longer-has-to-be-a-year-long-project-.jpg)
3DCP Group
Now, homes can be built in a fraction of the time while using fewer building materials with reduced labor needs.
![Now, homes can be built in a fraction of the time while using fewer building materials with reduced labor needs.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190512,width-700,height-525,imgsize-420412/now-homes-can-be-built-in-a-fraction-of-the-time-while-using-fewer-building-materials-with-reduced-labor-needs-.jpg)
3DCP Group
And within the next 10 years, Mikkel Brich, the cofounder and CEO of 3DCP Group, believes 3D printers could cut the price of homes by 50%.
![And within the next 10 years, Mikkel Brich, the cofounder and CEO of 3DCP Group, believes 3D printers could cut the price of homes by 50%.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190507,width-700,height-525,imgsize-423260/and-within-the-next-10-years-mikkel-brich-the-cofounder-and-ceo-of-3dcp-group-believes-3d-printers-could-cut-the-price-of-homes-by-50-.jpg)
3DCP Group
With all these benefits, it's no surprise the proliferation of 3D printing construction tech is already happening: Zack Mannheimer, the CEO of 3D printing construction company Alquist, believes more houses will be 3D printed than built conventionally by 2027.
![With all these benefits, it](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190498,width-700,height-525,imgsize-373496/with-all-these-benefits-itaposs-no-surprise-the-proliferation-of-3d-printing-construction-tech-is-already-happening-zack-mannheimer-the-ceo-of-3d-printing-construction-company-alquist-believes-more-houses-will-be-3d-printed-than-built-conventionally-by-2027-.jpg)
3DCP Group
Source: Insider
There are already a handful of 3D-printed buildings around the world that serve as a testament to how quickly and successfully printers can create homes.
![There are already a handful of 3D-printed buildings around the world that serve as a testament to how quickly and successfully printers can create homes.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190490,width-700,height-525,imgsize-598282/there-are-already-a-handful-of-3d-printed-buildings-around-the-world-that-serve-as-a-testament-to-how-quickly-and-successfully-printers-can-create-homes-.jpg)
3DCP Group
In March, Texas startup Icon printed the walls of its 2,000-square-foot luxury home in Austin, Texas in eight days despite hardware and weather issues.
![In March, Texas startup Icon printed the walls of its 2,000-square-foot luxury home in Austin, Texas in eight days despite hardware and weather issues.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190481,width-700,height-525,imgsize-524446/in-march-texas-startup-icon-printed-the-walls-of-its-2000-square-foot-luxury-home-in-austin-texas-in-eight-days-despite-hardware-and-weather-issues-.jpg)
Brittany Chang/Insider
Source: Insider
Shortly after, nonprofit Thinking Huts used COBOD's popular BOD2 printer to create the walls of a Madagascar school in 18 hours.
![Shortly after, nonprofit Thinking Huts used COBOD](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190478,width-700,height-525,imgsize-569494/shortly-after-nonprofit-thinking-huts-used-cobodaposs-popular-bod2-printer-to-create-the-walls-of-a-madagascar-school-in-18-hours-.jpg)
BOTO Friddet
Source: Insider
On the heels of these two major projects, 3DCP Group used the same BOD2 printing system to build its first project and "proof of concept": a 398-square-foot tiny home in Denmark.
![On the heels of these two major projects, 3DCP Group used the same BOD2 printing system to build its first project and "proof of concept": a 398-square-foot tiny home in Denmark.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190465,width-700,height-525,imgsize-413538/on-the-heels-of-these-two-major-projects-3dcp-group-used-the-same-bod2-printing-system-to-build-its-first-project-and-quotproof-of-conceptquot-a-398-square-foot-tiny-home-in-denmark-.jpg)
3DCP Group
Source: Insider
On paper, a tiny home might not seem as impressive as a luxury home or school building.
![On paper, a tiny home might not seem as impressive as a luxury home or school building.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190457,width-700,height-525,imgsize-347984/on-paper-a-tiny-home-might-not-seem-as-impressive-as-a-luxury-home-or-school-building-.jpg)
3DCP Group
But according to Brich, the petite home has many firsts.
![But according to Brich, the petite home has many firsts.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190450,width-700,height-525,imgsize-446010/but-according-to-brich-the-petite-home-has-many-firsts-.jpg)
3DCP Group
It's topped with the world's first 3D-printed roof …
![It](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190443,width-700,height-525,imgsize-300726/itaposs-topped-with-the-worldaposs-first-3d-printed-roof-x2026.jpg)
3DCP Group
… and is the first project to be printed using pure concrete instead of a mix, he noted.
![… and is the first project to be printed using pure concrete instead of a mix, he noted.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190438,width-700,height-525,imgsize-519626/x2026-and-is-the-first-project-to-be-printed-using-pure-concrete-instead-of-a-mix-he-noted-.jpg)
3DCP Group
To create the tiny home, 3DCP Group borrowed COBOD's 3D printer and employees, limiting the startup's design and build time to just a little over a month.
![To create the tiny home, 3DCP Group borrowed COBOD](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190432,width-700,height-525,imgsize-140372/to-create-the-tiny-home-3dcp-group-borrowed-cobodaposs-3d-printer-and-employees-limiting-the-startupaposs-design-and-build-time-to-just-a-little-over-a-month-.jpg)
3DCP Group
Five weeks is an unusually constrained amount of time to create a home from scratch.
![Five weeks is an unusually constrained amount of time to create a home from scratch.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190424,width-700,height-525,imgsize-465852/five-weeks-is-an-unusually-constrained-amount-of-time-to-create-a-home-from-scratch-.jpg)
3DCP Group
So to meet this rushed deadline, the team had to work 18-hour days.
![So to meet this rushed deadline, the team had to work 18-hour days.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190417,width-700,height-525,imgsize-199520/so-to-meet-this-rushed-deadline-the-team-had-to-work-18-hour-days-.jpg)
3DCP Group
The installation of the COBOD printer on the property took eight hours, Brich told Insider in an email.
![The installation of the COBOD printer on the property took eight hours, Brich told Insider in an email.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190407,width-700,height-525,imgsize-426644/the-installation-of-the-cobod-printer-on-the-property-took-eight-hours-brich-told-insider-in-an-email-.jpg)
3DCP Group
And half of that time was spent precisely placing the printer's foundation — four concrete blocks — into place.
![And half of that time was spent precisely placing the printer](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190392,width-700,height-525,imgsize-362670/and-half-of-that-time-was-spent-precisely-placing-the-printeraposs-foundation-x2014-four-concrete-blocks-x2014-into-place-.jpg)
3DCP Group
But after the system was installed, the printer was able to produce the concrete walls of the tiny home in 22 hours.
![But after the system was installed, the printer was able to produce the concrete walls of the tiny home in 22 hours.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190389,width-700,height-525,imgsize-351000/but-after-the-system-was-installed-the-printer-was-able-to-produce-the-concrete-walls-of-the-tiny-home-in-22-hours-.jpg)
3DCP Group
And according to Brich, this time could've been reduced to 10 hours if the startup didn't have to follow Denmark's construction regulations …
![And according to Brich, this time could](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190379,width-700,height-525,imgsize-646408/and-according-to-brich-this-time-couldaposve-been-reduced-to-10-hours-if-the-startup-didnapost-have-to-follow-denmarkaposs-construction-regulations-x2026.jpg)
3DCP Group
… a testament to the efficiency of 3D printers.
![… a testament to the efficiency of 3D printers.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190366,width-700,height-525,imgsize-455610/x2026-a-testament-to-the-efficiency-of-3d-printers-.jpg)
3DCP Group
Think of the printing system as a piping bag with a nozzle that can excrete concrete according to the coordinates of the construction plan.
![Think of the printing system as a piping bag with a nozzle that can excrete concrete according to the coordinates of the construction plan.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190361,width-700,height-525,imgsize-561176/think-of-the-printing-system-as-a-piping-bag-with-a-nozzle-that-can-excrete-concrete-according-to-the-coordinates-of-the-construction-plan-.jpg)
3DCP Group
By using a precise automated system, the walls can be built on demand.
![By using a precise automated system, the walls can be built on demand.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190354,width-700,height-525,imgsize-397772/by-using-a-precise-automated-system-the-walls-can-be-built-on-demand-.jpg)
3DCP Group
And because the 3D printing software offers some flexibility, the team was able to redesign parts of the tiny home mid-print to correct any mistakes or design changes.
![And because the 3D printing software offers some flexibility, the team was able to redesign parts of the tiny home mid-print to correct any mistakes or design changes.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190346,width-700,height-525,imgsize-621780/and-because-the-3d-printing-software-offers-some-flexibility-the-team-was-able-to-redesign-parts-of-the-tiny-home-mid-print-to-correct-any-mistakes-or-design-changes-.jpg)
3DCP Group
After the five-week dash and a series of tests, the completed home opened to the public in March.
![After the five-week dash and a series of tests, the completed home opened to the public in March.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190333,width-700,height-525,imgsize-553130/after-the-five-week-dash-and-a-series-of-tests-the-completed-home-opened-to-the-public-in-march-.jpg)
3DCP Group
And much to Brich's surprise, it drew in international crowds from countries like the US, Singapore, Australia, and Guatemala.
![And much to Brich](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190312,width-700,height-525,imgsize-329052/and-much-to-brichaposs-surprise-it-drew-in-international-crowds-from-countries-like-the-us-singapore-australia-and-guatemala-.jpg)
3DCP Group
"We are tapping into the fascination with the future," Brich said. "It's almost science fiction.
!["We are tapping into the fascination with the future," Brich said. "It](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190302,width-700,height-525,imgsize-609710/quotwe-are-tapping-into-the-fascination-with-the-futurequot-brich-said-quotitaposs-almost-science-fiction-.jpg)
3DCP Group
And it's easy to see why the public has been so fascinated with a little home that "went above all expectations," Brich said.
![And it](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190296,width-700,height-525,imgsize-391834/and-itaposs-easy-to-see-why-the-public-has-been-so-fascinated-with-a-little-home-that-quotwent-above-all-expectationsquot-brich-said-.jpg)
3DCP Group
The build may be small, but it serves as a physical representation of the next generation of homebuilding.
![The build may be small, but it serves as a physical representation of the next generation of homebuilding.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190289,width-700,height-525,imgsize-374706/the-build-may-be-small-but-it-serves-as-a-physical-representation-of-the-next-generation-of-homebuilding-.jpg)
3DCP Group
And it's not every day people get to see a home with curved piped walls, a unique trademark of 3D printed homes.
![And it](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190278,width-700,height-525,imgsize-668214/and-itaposs-not-every-day-people-get-to-see-a-home-with-curved-piped-walls-a-unique-trademark-of-3d-printed-homes-.jpg)
3DCP Group
"It doesn't look that impressive when you drive past it, but actually it is quite a huge leap for the construction industry and the future of construction," Brich said.
!["It doesn](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-93190273,width-700,height-525,imgsize-327114/quotit-doesnapost-look-that-impressive-when-you-drive-past-it-but-actually-it-is-quite-a-huge-leap-for-the-construction-industry-and-the-future-of-constructionquot-brich-said-.jpg)
3DCP Group
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