he use of 3D printing in architecture is still small as logistics are being ironed out, but a new proof of concept has just been unveiled. The 250-square-metre space (2,700 square foot) is what Dubai's Museum of the Future project is calling the world's first 3D-printed office building. China unveiled the world's first 3D printed office building and mansion in early 2015.

First announced in June 2015, the new building's purpose is to showcase the United Arab Emirates' commitment to innovation and looking to the future, and promote the UAE as a world leader in 3D printing.

"We implement what we plan and we pursue actions not theories. The rapidly changing world requires us to accelerate our pace of development as history does not recognize plans but achievements," Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said at the grand opening.


Looking like a mashup of a "Jetsons" abode and an Apple Store, the compact office was printed out layer by layer over 17 days at a cost of $140,000, said Saif al-Aleeli, the CEO of a government initiative called the Dubai Future Foundation that is behind the project. Features include a tree-shaded outdoor garden deck and LED lights that automatically adjust to the brightness outside. (Reuters Photo)

A 3D printer was used to print the building in a special cement mixture, layer by layer. In all, it took a total of 17 days to print the building at a cost of about $140,000, after which the interior and exterior design details were added.

One person was employed to monitor the 3D printer. Another seven people took care of the installation of building components on-site, and another 10 electricians and other specialists looked after the engineering. They represented a savings of 50 percent on normal labour costs.

The open plan office will initially house the Dubai Future Foundation temporarily. In addition to providing a workspace, it could also, in the future, be used to host exhibitions, workshops and other events


"Why 3-D printing? Because it makes sense in terms of cost, in terms of time-saving, in terms of efficiency," the 29-year-old al-Aleeli said. "We really believe that this technology will revolutionize the construction, the development sector as well as other sectors, (including) the medical sector (and) consumable products." (Reuters Photo)


Products made using 3-D printing are first designed on a computer and then printed out using a variety of materials, including metal, plastic and concrete. Developers are finding a growing number of uses for the technology as it evolves. (Reuters Photo)


The technology has been used in other construction projects too, including a Dutch canal house being raised in Amsterdam. But the foundation says its Dubai office is the first "fully functional 3-D printed building," constructed with full services and meant for daily use. The Chinese company WinSun Global used a 20-foot tall printer squirting out cement and other materials to produce the 17 building modules for the new Dubai office, according to the foundation. The pieces were then shipped from China to the Gulf port city, where it took workers two days to piece them together. (Reuters Photo)



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Further work, including the installment of the interiors and landscaping, took another three months. Designers left open part of the finishing in the foyer so visitors can see how the 3-D printed layers came together, row after squiggly row. The building occupies prime real-estate between the city's iconic twin Emirates Towers and the Dubai International Financial Center, which is a stand-in for a futuristic city in the forthcoming "Star Trek Beyond" film. (Reuters Photo)

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