Progreso, cement producer in Central and South America’s cement industry, has through its corporate accelerator Progreso X inaugurated Guatemala’s first-ever 3D printed building. The milestone was achieved in collaboration with Danish 3DCP Group utilizing COBOD International’s BOD2 construction 3D printer.
The first 3D printed house in Guatemala combines modern building technique with very traditional palm leaves rancho-roof type, ideal for seismic conditions.
The project has successfully taken steps to validate the structural viability of 3D construction printing in a seismic-prone region. The project, featuring three-meter (nine feet) high 3D printed walls, was completed in just 26 printing hours over seven days.
Due to the use of 3D printing, the house features highly organic-shaped walls that would otherwise be extremely expensive, even unfeasible to complete with concrete blocks, the region’s predominant building material.
The 3D printed concrete walls are complemented by a “Rancho” type palm leaves roof. This roof type has been used for generations in Latin America, as it is inexpensive, provides thermal comfort and is well-suited for seismic regions due to the flexible and lightweight material.
