This 3D printer is big enough to build houses. Created by Italian engineering company WASP, the project has aspirations to solve the global housing crisis by building houses using sustainable materials.
The UN estimates that by 2030 approximately three billion people will require housing and 3D printers are being mooted as one potential solution.
The 40 foot tall, 20 foot wide printer is able to build structures using products like clay or dirt in order to maximise its use in areas with limited infrastructure or resources.
The structure -- consisting of a metal frame that suspends a nozzle -- uses very little energy to gradually build up layers of clay, eventually forming a basic house structure. WASP, which stands for World’s Advance Saving Project, is testing out the working prototype on September 26-27 will be documenting the progress on its website.
Building houses from 3D printers isn't unprecedented. In January 2015 a Chinese company built ten houses on the outskirts of Suzhou, a city in eastern China. A Dutch company is also using 3D printers to build a bridge made out of printed steel, but where the bridge will be built is yet yet to be decided.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
