3D Printed House Built By IIT-M Start-Up

Start-up from IIT-Madras Tvasta has built a 3D-printed residence on the campus of the university. The single-story home, which has a built-area of about 600 sq. ft., has a functional space consisting of a single bedroom, hall, and kitchen, with the entire ensemble being designed, developed, and realized using Tvasta’s “Concrete 3D Printing” technology. Using this technology, the entire construction cost can be lowered, as well as the construction time. It also reduces the associated carbon footprint. The house on the IIT campus was built in collaboration with the Terwilliger Centre for Innovation in Shelter, a Habitat for Humanity affiliate. Nirmala Sitharaman, the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, who virtually inaugurated the initiative, stated that India needed such quick-fix solutions. “This technology is the first to be beneficiary-led in the construction industry,” stated Bhaskar Ramamurthy, Director, IIT Madras. Just as how Borewells are rented by farmers, and the machine used to build this house can be rented as well. It ensures large-scale production, great quality, and price certainty for customers.” “This technology can enable deep personalisation of building for the ultimate target segment – the individual,” Adithya V.S., Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions, said. Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions announced in a blog post on its website that it has developed its own material mix, which is an extrudable concrete made of cement, sand, geopolymers, and fibres. It mixed the raw materials in a huge hopper to create the final material mix. The construction was purposely constructed hollow during 3D printing to provide allowances for wiring and plumbing without damaging the wall. The use of such locally sourced materials would also eliminate the need to ship concrete over vast distances, lowering environmental effect.