Detroit Evening Report: Detroit’s first 3D-printed house hits the market

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The home was 3d printed at Citizen Robotics' facility in Southwest Detroit, and was built in collaboration with Detroit-based architectural firm Develop Architecture.

The home was 3d printed at Citizen Robotics' facility in Southwest Detroit, and was built in collaboration with Detroit-based architectural firm Develop Architecture.

Detroit’s first 3D printed house is officially on the market in the city’s Islandview neighborhood.


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The 988-square-foot, two-bedroom house  — located at 1444 Sheridan — is the result of a three-year collaboration between Citizen Robotics and Detroit-based architectural firm Develop Architecture. The wall segments were printed in Citizen Robotics’ Southwest Detroit facility, then placed and assembled on-site.

Fernando Bales, lab manager for Citizens Robotics, says 3D-printed homes could be majorly beneficial in Detroit’s housing market due to its cost-effectiveness and the need for affordable housing in the city.

“I think any form of technology or skill set that helps to create more housing, attainable housing, affordable housing, housing that is safe, housing that is well-built, housing that is affordable to maintain, that’s the future,” he said.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Thursday for the finished home, which is now for sale through Keller Williams. Bale says the future homeowner will only have to invest in solar panels on the roof, which should generate enough electricity to power the entire house. 

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Author

  • Hernz Laguerre
    Hernz Laguerre Jr. is a Multimedia Journalist at 101.9 WDET. He is one of the co-host for "Detroit Evening Report," one of the weekend anchors for "Weekend Edition," the producer for our political podcast, "MichMash," and reports on arts, culture and politics.