France's 3D-Printed Home

Located in Nantes, France, the "Yhnova" project is a 3D-printed home with 1,022 square feet, and is the first of its kind to permanently house a family.

Developed by University of Nantes researchers, the cost to build the home was about $232,000, cheaper than traditionally built homes to the tune of about 20 percent, and the researchers say that the next 3D-printed home should take only 33 hours to complete, the BBC reports. According to Business Insider, technology and innovation lead at the Nantes city council Francky Trichet is considering using the building technology for other projects, including public event spaces.

The device prints in layers going from the ground up. Each wall in the house is made of two layers of polyurethane, an insulator. The space between the layers is then filled with cement, creating a thick wall. Yhnova was designed with wheelchair access, and all of its appliances can be controlled with a smartphone. In five years, Furet said, building 3D homes will be 25 percent cheaper. As more houses are built and the technology improves, he expects the cost to be 40 percent cheaper a decade from now, all while adhering to building codes.

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