Completed a detached house for 5 million yen World's attention for amazing technology...Japanese company's 3D printer housing challenge
Practical use of a "3D printer house" that outputs an entire house with a 3D printer is beginning to become a reality. Serendix, a start-up company in Hyogo Prefecture, has developed a general-purpose housing "barnacle model" using a 3D printer. By the spring of 2023, we aim to sell a 1LDK detached house for about 5 million yen. This would inevitably lead to massive price fluctuations in the housing industry, but is it really possible? We asked Kunihiro Iida, COO (Chief Operating Officer) of Serendix, about the current state of 3D printer housing.
Sphere, a 3D printer house that was completed in 23 hours and 12 minutes from the start of construction [Photo: Courtesy of Serendix]
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Completed Japan's first 3D printer house in 23 hours and 12 minutes from start of construction
The practical use of a "3D printer house" that outputs an entire house with a 3D printer is starting to become a reality. Serendix, a start-up company in Hyogo Prefecture, has developed a general-purpose housing "barnacle model" using a 3D printer. By the spring of 2023, we aim to sell a 1LDK detached house for about 5 million yen. This would inevitably lead to massive price fluctuations in the housing industry, but is it really possible? We asked Kunihiro Iida, COO (Chief Operating Officer) of Serendix, about the current state of 3D printer housing.
Serendix was established in August 2018 with the concept of creating a "world's most advanced house". In March of this year, aiming to complete Japan's first 3D printer house within 24 hours, the spherical 3D printer house "Sphere" was completed in 23 hours and 12 minutes from the start of construction. This press release was published in 59 media outlets in 26 countries around the world and received a great response internationally.
"Sphere" is a 10-square-meter spherical building with only electrical equipment and no water supply or other facilities. In addition, the "barnacle model", which we are aiming to start selling from next spring, is planned to be sold as a residence that can be moved in immediately, with an area of 49 square meters and complete with electricity, water, gas, bath and toilet. It is said that
It's surprising that a full-fledged house can be built for 24 hours at around 5 million yen, but I wonder if it meets the standards generally required for housing, such as strength, water resistance, heat insulation, fire resistance, and earthquake resistance.
“The material is a mixture of ordinary concrete with a special hardening agent, etc., and the double structure enhances the heat insulation. It has passed Japan’s most stringent earthquake resistance standards in the world, and there is no problem with its strength. , We have also applied for various patents.The shape of the sphere is the point, and this is the shape that is most resistant to natural disasters.Currently, general 3D printer houses that are being developed all over the world have only the walls part printed with 3D printers. The output construction method is adopted, and the process and construction cost are not much different from conventional houses, but if it is a sphere, the house itself is a single structure, and construction delivery time and costs can be greatly reduced. So it's hard to explain, but our unique strength is the technology to output spherical walls with angles that don't need roofs."
“Barnacle model” housing for the general public aiming to sell by spring 2023 [Photo: Keio University KGRI Kan Design & Digital Manufacturing Creative Center Provided by Emu Ikyama]
Why was it possible for a start-up company in Hyogo to develop a spherical house instead of a world-famous construction company? COO Iida says that the cooperation of the 140 companies around the world participating in this project is significant.
“Rather than being a general housing manufacturer, we are a digital data company. Based on the concept and construction technology data we have, we have partner companies around the world provide us with construction materials and various technologies, and we are bringing them together. Only then will the spherical house be completed.Since this is a project involving 140 companies from around the world with total sales of 15 trillion yen, it does not consist of a single patent.Without technical cooperation from various private companies. It's the same as NASA can't go into space alone."
If the time comes to build a house for 5 million yen, the current construction and housing industry will inevitably be affected, but surprisingly there is no discord or pressure from industry groups. Behind this is the serious housing loan situation in Japan.
“The average age for paying off a mortgage is 73, and it is said that 40% of people will never own a house for the rest of their lives. The number of inquiries from elderly people who have lost their homes looking for cheap housing is increasing year by year.In the current housing loan system, industry insiders know that more and more people will eventually be unable to pay their loans.The technology of 3D printer housing The flow of development doesn't stop, and a so-called game change is happening.On the other hand, there is no change in demand to live in the same house as before, even if you pay a high price.I don't think halation will occur."
From now on, COO Iida will appeal to the world at the Osaka Kansai Expo in 2025, saying, "My goal is to buy a house like buying a car and free everyone from mortgages." Will the situation surrounding the housing industry really change in the next few years? I would like to keep an eye on the future of 3D printer housing.
