A cave-inspired home has become the first 2-storey 3D printed reinforced concrete house to obtain government approval under Japan’s stringent seismic design requirements
The 50 sq m home by Kizuki Co incorporates 3D printed arches, as well as a 3D printed floor slab and roof slab. Several interior elements were also produced using 3D printing to extend the curved geometry throughout the interior.
The house was delivered by a four-person crew operating the printer under seasonal conditions ranging from -10C to 35C.
Custom configuration of the Cobod 3D printer enabled printing from 0.5m below ground to a total height of 7m.
A new path for housebuilding
Japan’s residential construction sector has traditionally been dominated by timber due to familiar workflows, regulatory clarity and long-established craftsmanship and expertise.
However, demographic changes and an ageing workforce are putting traditional building methods under pressure.
By a delivering a 3D printed reinforced concrete structure that satisfies Japan’s seismic standards in what is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone regions, Kizuki sought to demonstrate that automated construction can support structural resilience, design flexibility and reduced reliance on manual labour.
Technical and regulatory details from the Kurihara project will inform Kizuki’s future development phases as the company evaluates broader applications where seismic performance, delivery speed and reduced dependence on manual labour are critical.
Rika Igarashi, CEO of Kizuki Co, said: “Based on the knowledge gained through our recent residential construction project, we plan to expand the application of 3D printing technology into civil structures, disaster-prevention and defence infrastructure, and post-disaster reconstruction.
“We are also developing a construction training programme and a digital construction management system, aiming to establish a sustainable construction-industry model.”
Henrik Lund-Nielsen, founder and general manager of Cobod International, said: “Japan has some of the most demanding seismic requirements in the world. Seeing a government-approved two-storey 3D printed reinforced concrete house completed here confirms that 3D construction printing is ready for projects that rely on structural precision and consistent quality, also in seismic areas.”
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