Additive Manufacturing for the Circular Built Environment (2024-01)¶

By making rapid prototyping accessible and inexpensive, additive manufacturing (AM) has transformed the fabrication industry. The adaptability of the process to various materials makes it applicable to multiple fields ranging from complex nanoscale production in the medical field to the manufacturing of largescale structures in the construction industry. AM methods are constantly evolving, enabling the production of complex products with minimal initial investment. AM processes generate little waste and require no formwork, making them relevant to the construction industry, which conventionally produces significant amounts of waste. This chapter provides a high-level overview of AM as an innovative technique and key developments towards its use for a circular built environment. It further delineates the viability of AM techniques using earth-based materials for implementing a circular economy in the construction sector through a series of case studies developed gradually from the scale of architectural prototypes to realised buildings. These examples address factors such as fabrication processes, techniques, and materials used and their influence on circularity through the production cycle of construction achieved using AM. Through the case studies, the chapter promotes ‘closing the loop’ on resources by reusing and recycling excavated construction materials. The chapter concludes with projections for AM practices and potential commercial applications of the technology. Overall, the chapter is useful for anybody interested in the built environment looking at alternative and sustainable building methods, including users, researchers, and professionals.