Our latest project, led by the Australian Aboriginal Housing Office, has begun, delivering Australia's first 3D-printed social and affordable housing project.
- LOCATION: DUBBO, NSW
- 135T ContourCrete®
This project paves the way for how we view social housing in Australia. This duplex not only looks at the speed and efficiencies but also the livability and longevity of social and affordable housing. 3D concrete printing can reduce costs and cut construction time in half. In turn delivering more homes sooner for those who need them.
The vacant block will be transformed into two modern two-bedroom homes for Aboriginal social and affordable housing tenants. The printing process will take 11 days of actual print time and use approximately 135 tonnes of our bespoke Contourcrete mix.
Indigenous company Aboriginal Sustainable Homes (ASH Group), alongside our customer, Crete-Tech, is developing the site to build homes for the Indigenous community. The 3D-printed houses will soon provide Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) tenants with a safe and secure place to call home.
“It is the first social and affordable 3D printed house. What's probably more astonishing for people is it's being brought, this new technology to the industry, by an Aboriginal company. Now, we see ourselves as being the original innovators and engineers, and that's something that I'm immensely proud of as an Aboriginal man, or Wiradjuri man, in being able to bring this and to build this in what's affectionately known as Dubb Vegas. It's really, really exciting for us, and I think it's a way forward for the future.”
Brad Draper, Aboriginal Sustainable Homes (ASH Group)
We are one of the solutions that can help both the availability and the cost of housing. House prices in Australia hit record highs in April 2024, despite a slowdown in growth, with a 6.6% increase from April 2023 based on data by PropTrack. According to CoreLogic, national median rents also reached record levels at $627 per week, marking an average annual growth of 9.1% over the past three years. One of the most critical aspects of 3D concrete printing is speed. We can decrease build time compared with traditional construction methods, providing homes to those in need much quicker.
'We're not builders; we're a tech company, so we're talking to a lot of people, not just in New South Wales and Victoria, but all over the country and abroad, so for us we want to leave a legacy. We want to be a company that are seen to be helping, you with the crisis. But also the cost of housing as well."
Shayne Jessiman, Director & Group General Manager
This revolutionary social housing development will also be at the forefront of developing environmentally conscious affordable housing. This duplex will have higher thermal energy ratings, produce significantly less waste, and use Contourcrete, made from ~40% recycled materials.
The 3D-printed structure will be completed first, followed by the roof installation and interior fixtures. Homes are expected to be ready by February 2025. Construction will take 16 weeks, compared to 40 weeks using traditional methods.
“We just want to keep pushing forward; we want to be the disruptors in the construction industry. It is the last industry to be automated”
Shayne Jessiman, Director & Group General Manager
The project is supported by Dubbo Regional Council, who approved the Development Application (DA) in July 2024.
