Building materials provider Holcim says the project builds on the technology used in its 3D-printed school in Malawi. It adds that the Mvule Gardens housing complex in Kilifi, Kenya is scaling up affordable housing in the country to be part of bridging the country’s infrastructure gap.
The project utilises Holcim’s TectorPrint proprietary ink to give the walls structural function to bear the load of the building. Holcim says this breakthrough will accelerate the scale-up of 3D printing for affordable housing.
Holcim CEO Jan Jenisch commented: “With today’s rapid urbanisation, over three billion people are expected to need affordable housing by 2030. This issue is most acute in Africa, with countries like Kenya already facing an estimated shortage of two million houses. By deploying 3D printing, we can address this infrastructure gap at scale to increase living standards for all.”
Tenbite Ermias, MD of CDC Africa, added: “14Trees is pioneering the use of leading edge technology to address one of Africa’s most pressing development needs - affordable housing - to create life-changing infrastructure for whole communities.”
The Mvule Gardens is one of the largest 3D-printed affordable housing projects in the world. It is part of the Green Heart of Kenya regenerative ecosystem, which is designed to be a model for inclusive and climate-resilient cities. Its advanced sustainability profile won an IFC-EDGE Advanced sustainable design certification, which recognizes resource-efficient and zero-carbon buildings.
Holcim’s joint venture 14Trees is dedicated to addressing Africa’s shortage of affordable housing with 3D printing and smart design while creating skilled local jobs. The company says that, as proven in Malawi, the technique can reduce the environmental footprint of a house by more than 50% compared to conventional methods, while the walls can be built at record speed in just 12 hours compared to almost four days with conventional building techniques.
MASS Design Group, an American and African-based architecture practice, designed the Mvule Gardens to advance affordable, sustainable and replicable housing units adapted to Kenya’s environment.
