Headed by architects Leslie Lok and Sasa Zivkovic, HANNAH was able to repurpose wood from ash trees damaged by an invasive beetle species to build the Ashen Cabin, a modern, tiny cabin completely constructed using 3D-printing of timber and concrete.
Source: Architects turn waste wood into a 3D-printed cabin in upstate New York
Effectively any shape is possible thanks to the 3D printing process, while the results are strong and durable, relying on the physics of jamming and collective strength of composited stones. The reversibility of the process makes this a far more eco-friendly way to build rigid structures from durable materials that still dismantle on demand.
via Reversible Concrete: 3D Printing for Easy Deconstruction & Reuse | Urbanist.
Using recycled construction waste and rapid prototyping processes, a Chinese company is showing off how 3D printing technologies can be applied to building at astonishing new speeds and scales.
via 10 in 1 Day: Chinese Homes 3D-Printed from Scraps Materials | Urbanist.
The Mobile Fab device is a plastic recycler that, using a series of pumps, tubes and wires, grinds No.5 plastic into a fine powder, which is fed into the 3D printer attached to the front of the bike. Passersby are invited to bring pieces of discarded polypropylene, the only plastic Fabraft can handle for the moment, to their bike. After a couple of hours, processing and printing the material, they’re rewarded with such items as a Fabraft medallion, to be inserted into the spokes of their own bicycles. Best of all, there’s no charge, just plastic.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbwIhqkkkwo&w=854&h=510]
It’s our mission to clean up the ocean and planet by ensuring that anyone can collect enough plastics to permanently ascend from poverty.
The Plastic Bank is a plastics return, repurposing, and 3D printing center strategically located in areas around the world with both an abundance of plastic waste & poverty.
Our self-sustaining business model empowers the poor to harvest plastics as a currency for various opportunities including education, training, necessities and 3D printing services.
We call the plastics harvested by the poor or removed from our oceans & waterways ‘social plastics’ and it is our goal to lead the movement towards the worldwide demand for the use of social plastics in everyday products. The higher the worldwide demand becomes, the higher the reward will be for harvesting social plastics.
via Reducing Waste Plastic & Poverty Around the World Through The Plastic Bank – YouTube.
This is more smile karma than building material reuse news. Enjoy!
It turns out that Madrigal isn’t alone in looking at hermit crabs, that they are not only interested in social media and real estate, but also in the current rage, 3D printing and digital fabrication. In fact, the so-called race to build the 3D printed house is over; It’s been done, by Japanese designer Aki Inomata since 2009 for hermit crabs.
via CT scanned 3D printed monster homes hit hermit crab real estate market : TreeHugger.