Client: Printed Farms
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Project Type: Residential / House
Timeline: 6 Days Printing
The Challenge
In Tallahassee, within the state’s lowest income zip code, the need for high-quality, resilient, and affordable housing is critical. The goal was to build a home that was not just a tech demo, but a real, livable solution for a family. However, this historic project faced a unique logistical hurdle. The construction site constraints meant the gantry printer was physically too small to print the entire footprint of the 1,580 sq. ft. home in one continuous go. We faced a choice: shrink the house to fit the printer, or innovate a new way to print on site.
The Solution
Printera, in collaboration with a local 3DCP distributor, refused to compromise on the home’s size. Instead, we pioneered a hybrid construction method. We printed the majority of the 3-bedroom, 2-bath structure directly on the foundation, completing the exterior and interior walls in a remarkable 32 hours of print time. To solve the size constraint, we utilized the interior of the front bedroom as a temporary manufacturing floor. We printed the remaining front walls as “pre-printed” panels inside the room, then lifted and moved them into place once cured. This innovative workaround not only saved the design but laid the groundwork for Printera’s future shift toward off site pre-printing. To demonstrate the true potential of 3D printing, we integrated a parametrically designed entry feature, affectionately dubbed the “Wavy Wall” by the client. This was not just for curb appeal; the undulating curves significantly increased the wall’s structural stiffness and created self-shading pockets to improve thermal comfort in the Florida heat, a perfect marriage of form and function.
The Outcome
This project stands as Florida’s inaugural 3D printed home, a symbol of progress for the affordable housing movement. Despite the logistical challenges, the home was completed and listed for $250,000 in November 2022, selling just one month later. It proved that 3D printed homes are not just a futuristic concept, they are a market ready reality that can provide dignified, durable housing at an accessible price point.
