Jason Ballard, the CEO and co-founder of 3D printing architecture company
will be building on the moon before the end of the decade. But first, the CEO wanted to discuss a moonshot much closer to home. ’s work is building homes for disadvantaged people, including accommodation for the long-term homeless, often in collaboration with non-profits. Creating affordable housing is also an objective, which led the company to launch design competition Initiative 99 last month. Initiative 99 seeks submissions for homes that can be 3D-printed for $99,000 or less.
. Ballard hopes the competition receives entries tailored to meet cultures and contexts around the world, addressing specific needs and challenges. Bailey suggested the success of 3D-printed housing could hinge on how it is perceived by prospective residents. “One thing to keep in mind with any innovation in housing development, including 3D-development … is that the housing must fit in the rental market and be of the quality and style that any person would want to live in,” she said.
is experimenting with using lunar regolith, the mineral-rich dust and rock that covers the moon’s surface. The regolith can be melted with a laser and turned into a ceramic-like material that is hard, durable and radiation-absorbing, explained Ballard. Parts of the construction system have been tested in a vacuum, and will next be tested in simulated lunar gravity, before being sent to the moon in 2026 or 2027, he added.
is researching ways to utilize locally sourced building materials on Earth that can compete with concrete. Patti Harburg-Petrich, principal at engineering consultancy Buro Happold, noted that some companies are already printing with materials other than concrete. The firm consulted on Mighty Buildings’ award-winning Mighty House, in California, which utilized prefabricated, 3D-printed composite stone material for its walls.