01 November 2019

Dubai Municipality has entered the Guinness Book of World Records for completing the largest 3D-printed two-storey structure in the world, with a height of 9.5 m, and spanning a total area of 640 sq m.

This latest accomplishment is in line with the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to construct 25 per cent of buildings in the emirate utilising 3D printing technology by 2030, said a top official.

“This project is a major turning point in the construction sector at the local and regional levels and is based on the strategy of innovation in 3D printing technologies in construction,” remarked Dawoud Al Hajri, director-general of Dubai Municipality.

“This, in turn, will increase the pace and speed of execution and completion of buildings, and reduce construction costs and contribute to the development of solutions to the demographic challenges by reducing the number of construction workers,” he stated.

“It will also support the emirate’s sustainability trends by using local materials and reducing construction waste, where printing is done electronically according to engineering plans, directly without human intervention,” he added.

Al Hajri said the two-storey building had been designed and executed with a number of spaces that could be used as rooms or offices of different sizes.

“The walls are printed directly from the printer, unlike the traditional method of construction, which depends on formwork, reinforcement and pouring of concrete and making bricks,” said the top official.

The building’s design features different curves and shapes and has been tested to see whether it was possible to implement using 3D printing, explained Al Hajri.

During the construction phases, the municipality team carried out various tests and experiments on the mixes of the materials used in printing to ensure they meet the smoothness and pumping requirements of the printer and the quality, consistency and strength required to withstand the construction and the enviromental conditions.

The municipality has ensured that the materials used in the mixture are locally available in the country, said Al Hajri. The building has been executed according to sustainability requirements and green building standards, he added.  

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