- Holcim with assistance from PERI completed the printing of Switzerland’s first 3D printed building, a 150 m2 (1614 SF) showroom, in just 55 hours over 8 days.
- The 3D printed mainly curved walls, reaching 6.2 meters (20.3 feet) in height, contained 60m3 of concrete.
- By using a new developed real concrete mix by Holcim, with less cement and more strength than the mortars primarily used by other printers, Holcim’s focus was both on sustainability and durability, reducing environmental impact and enhancing structural integrity of the building.
- The showroom features a unique, elegant and modern design, where fan-shaped steel supports, and a wing-shaped roof, creates a striking contrast between the printed concrete and wood-steel elements.
The showroom was printed for Kobelt AG, known for its’ long-standing commitment to high-quality construction and renovation services. Based in St. Gallen, Switzerland the company has been operational since 1964 and specializes in house construction, timber construction, and building renovations.
Faced with space limitations in their present offices, Kobelt AG turned to Holcim and the innovative 3D construction printing technique to build the new showroom, aiming to explore and test the possibilities of 3D printing in construction, although Kobelt AG predominantly has been constructing in wood previously.
Recognizing the novelty of the technology, Holcim Switzerland partnered with the experienced PERI 3D Construction to assist with the project and used a BOD2 3D construction printer from COBOD, which both are minority shareholders of.
Designed as a showroom, the building covers an area of 150 m2 (1614 SF). The 3D printed walls, reaching a height of 6.2 meters (20.3 feet) were printed in just 55 hours over 8 days, demonstrating a remarkable speed that cannot be achieved with conventional methods, especially for such curved walls.
Kevin Böhlen, Project Manager at Holcim Switzerland, commented on the completion of the printing: “We printed the showroom in eight printing days with a total of 60 m³ of concrete. There were several challenges, but these learnings will help us improve our workflow for future projects. A special thanks to everyone who helped us and supported us. Also, a big thanks to Kobelt AG for their trust in us to print the first onsite building in Switzerland”.
Inside, the minimalist design combines wood with the unique concrete printed walls, and the building contain thoughtfully divided functional zones including meeting areas, sample displays, a children’s corner, a coffee kitchen, and a separate meeting room accessed by a rounded staircase. Seamless flooring and oak-look interior fittings contribute to a modern, uncluttered aesthetic.
The pavilion’s construction used 60 m3 of a new real concrete mix developed by Holcim instead of printing with a mortar which is the norm for non-COBOD printers.
Henrik Lund-Nielsen, Founder & General Manager of COBOD commented: “We congratulate Holcim on the development of the new 3D printable real concrete. For long we have been advocating printing with real concrete and not mortars, as the printing with mortars leads to use of more cement, higher CO2 emissions and costs. We need to lower the CO2 footprint of the construction sector, and this we can achieve by 3D printing material efficient design with real concrete, not mortars”.
Relevant Links
- Visit Holcim Switzerland website
- Visit Kobelt AG website
- Read the fact sheet about the Switzerland’s First On Site 3D Printed House
About COBOD International
COBOD stands as the global leader in supplying 3D printers for the construction sector, promoting over 70 printers distributed across North and Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Driven by a mission to revolutionize construction through multifunctional robots utilizing 3D printing, COBOD envisions automating half of the construction processes to achieve faster, cost-effective, sustainable results with enhanced design versatility.
From residential, commercial, and public structures to sports facilities and educational institutions, COBOD’s 3D printers have been instrumental in erecting 1 to 3-story structures across all six inhabited continents. Their innovative technology also extends to developing large-scale data centers, wind turbine towers, and more.
Embracing an open-source material approach, COBOD collaborates with global partners, including customers, academia, and suppliers. The company, backed by prominent shareholders such as General Electric, CEMEX, Holcim, and PERI, operates from its main office in Copenhagen, Denmark, and regional competence centers in Miami, Florida, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. COBOD’s dynamic team comprises over 100 professionals from 25 diverse nationalities.
About Holcim Switzerland
Holcim (Schweiz) AG is one of the leading providers in Switzerland for innovative and sustainable construction solutions in the areas of building construction, civil engineering and infrastructure. At 55 Switzerland-wide locations, the company produces concrete, gravel and cement and recycles demolition materials into resource-saving products. Sustainability is at the center of business activities: As a pioneer in the development of sustainable solutions, Holcim Switzerland has set itself the goal of producing climate-neutral and fully recyclable building materials by 2050. To achieve this vision, Holcim relies on a circular economy and reduces CO2 along the entire value chain. Holcim Switzerland is a subsidiary of the globally active Holcim Ltd and employs around 1200 people in three cement plants, 16 gravel plants, 36 concrete plants and several recycling centers.
About Kobelt AG
For more than 100 years, the general contractor Kobelt AG has set itself the goal of delighting its customers with the highest quality in house construction. Over the years, several divisions have been created to meet the wishes of clients at the highest level. For more than 50 years, Kobelthaus has specialized in building houses in solid and timber construction, Kobeltholzbau impresses with various works on its properties using the sustainable building material wood and Kobelt Umbau knows how to impress with individual solutions for conversions, extensions and renovations – also in solid and timber construction. These components make Kobelt AG a leading construction company in Switzerland.