Mighty Buildings Completes “World’s First” 3D Printed Net Zero Energy Home
Mighty Buildings has delivered what it claims is the world’s first 3D-printed net zero home as part of a 40-unit community in Desert Hot Springs exploring environmental and economic development strategies.
The Oakland-based technology company completed the 1,171-square-foot (159-square-meter) home in September 2022. Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects (EYRC) designed the two-bedroom, two-bathroom home, known as Quatro, which the team claims will produce as much energy as it consumes using Mighty Buildings flexible and paneled parts kit.
“We are thrilled to be the first company in the world to achieve what we believe will be the sustainable housing standard of the future,” said Slava Solonitsyn, CEO of Mighty Buildings.
“In this way, property developers will no longer have to choose between profitability, quality, design and protection of the planet,” he continued.
The composite stone exterior wall panels were 3D printed in an Oakland factory. The proprietary material – known as Light Stone – is an alternative to concrete with four times the tensile and flexural strength, 30% less weight and less carbon dioxide, according to Mighty Buildings.
The house’s lightweight steel roof cassettes and main plumbing/mechanical module were also pre-fabricated off-site, allowing the house’s components to be installed on its concrete slab foundation in less than a day.
Floor-to-ceiling vertical windows fit between the wall panels and provide views of the surrounding San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountains, while black metal flashing covers the built-in parapet and conceals the foundation connection.
Inside, the living room and dining room facing the public are separated from the private bedrooms by a utilitarian core with a kitchen, bathrooms, fitted wardrobes and mechanical equipment.
The home’s minimal material palette includes white oak cabinetry and flooring, stainless steel fixtures, glazed white tile, and quartz countertops. Recessed lighting and Brilliant smart home technology complete the interior details.
According to the company, Mighty Buildings achieved a net-zero design in three ways: efficient materials, integrated technologies and additional components.
According to Mighty Buildings, Light Stone has the characteristics of stone with better thermal performance, and the panel interiors are insulated to reduce the home’s energy consumption.
The design also accommodates solar technology and high performance windows.
Additionally, robotic coating application increases resistance to hurricane winds, high water, fire, mold, insects and temperature extremes.
“Our manufacturing technology features a high degree of automation and advanced robotics, which allows us to cut turnaround time by more than half,” Mighty Buildings said.
“In this way, the entire home can be built in 4-5 months, dramatically speeding up on-site completion and resulting in happier homebuyers, more productive on-site workers, and higher returns for contractors. promoters.”
When complete, each of the 20 homes in the community will include an additional accessory dwelling unit – for a total of 40 3D print volumes – as well as a swimming pool, pergola, hot tub and fire pit.
The rest of the panels will be printed at Mighty Buildings’ facility in Monterrey, Mexico.
Mighty Buildings also designed a 15-home 3D-printed neighborhood in Rancho Mirage, California, with Palari Group as developers. Meanwhile, in Houston, design studio Hannah is building the first multi-story 3D-printed house to be created on-site in the United States.
The final photograph is taken by the HANA agency. Process photography courtesy of Mighty Buildings.
Project credits:
Archive Architect: EYRC Works (Mathew Chaney, AIA, DBIA, LEED AP)
Recording engineer: Buro Happold
