Dubai: Dubai will build the world’s fully functional 3D printed building, proving once again to be one of the most innovative countries.
The building will act as the temporary office for the staff of the ‘Museum of the Future while the permanent museum, which is scheduled to be completed by 2017, is being built.
Mohammad Al Gergawi, Chairman of the UAE National Innovation Committee, said the UAE aims to deploy latest technologies to improve people’s lives. “We are keen to use the latest technologies to simplify people’s lives and to serve them better. This project is part of our overall innovation strategy to create new designs and new solutions in education, health care and cities. Our goal is to increase the happiness and well-being of our residents and to pioneer new solutions for the world.”
Experts estimate that 3D printing technology can reduce construction time of buildings by 50 to 70 per cent, reduce labour costs by 50 to 80 per cent and save between 30 and 60 per cent of construction waste. These savings translate into enhanced productivity, higher economic returns, and increased sustainability.
“The idea of 3D printing buildings was once a dream, but today it has become a reality,” he added. “This building will be a testimony to the efficiency and creativity of 3D printing technology, which we believe will play a major role in reshaping construction and design sectors. We aim to take advantage of this growth by becoming a global hub for innovation and 3D printing. This is the first step of many more to come.”
The office building will be approximately 2,000 square feet in size and will be printed layer by layer using a 20-foot tall 3D printer, then assembled on site in Dubai in just a few weeks.
All interior furniture, detailing, and structural components will also be built using 3D printing technology, combining a mixture of special reinforced concrete, glass fibre reinforced gypsum and fibre reinforced plastic.
This combination will make it the most advanced 3D printed structure ever built on this scale and the first to be put into actual use.
The building is the result of a partnership between Dubai and WinSun Global, along with leading global architecture and engineering firms Gensler, Thornton Thomasetti, and Syska Hennessy.
