Citizen Robotics in Detroit and Detroit-based architectural firm “developArchitecture” have completed Detroit’s first 3D-printed home, located at 1444 Sheridan in Detroit’s Islandview neighborhood (west of Indian Village).
Construction for the 988-square-foot, two-bedroom home began in October 2022, and is the first of many 3-D-printed homes meant to be affordable and more efficient in lowering utility costs for residents. To celebrate the project’s completion, Citizen Robotics will host a ribbon-cutting event at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 22
“This home proves by leveraging digitalization and robotics, we can solve many of the problems plaguing the homebuilding industry,” says Tom Woodman, co-founder and executive director of Citizen Robotics. “We can build right-sized homes, with fewer workers, that cost less to heat and cool. We can build homes with features to support living at any stage of life.”
The home began as a 3-D design and was printed with a cementitious mortar using a robotic arm. The innovation behind this method of architecture makes for a more efficient build process that involves less labor, fewer expenses, and more sustainable materials, according to the manufacturer.
“It’s rewarding to finally share our pilot home because 3-D printing is the future of architecture,” says Bryan Cook, founder and CEO of developArchitecture. “3-D printing will eventually become a standard method across the industry and Detroit is the perfect landscape for this type of innovation.”
The home also received nearly $160,000 in funding from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program to cover the construction materials for the house.
Gardner White in Warren is another partner for the project. The company staged the home, including two 3-D-printed tables from its soon-to-be-released collaboration with artist and designer Mike Han.
As part of Citizen Robotics and developArchitecture’s mission to increase diversity and inclusion, they partnered with BIPOC individuals across 12 different aspects of the home building process.
Future plans for Citizen Robotics include two upcoming workshop series — a 3-D printing roadshow funded by MEDC will travel across six counties in northern Michigan demonstrating 3-D printing for the environment, while a workshop series also is in the works to educate Detroiters about design for 3-D printing and the 3-D printing process.
To learn more about the 1444 Sheridan St. home or the ribbon-cutting event, visit citizenrobotics.org or developarchitecture.com.