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Large Portuguese Public Building 3D Printed in Record 9 Days, On Budget, Using COBOD Technology

Porto, Portugal — Portuguese construction 3D printing company Havelar has delivered a public building for the municipality of Matosinhos using construction 3D printing technology. The project, a 500 m² (5,400 ft²) recycling center office at the Ecocentro de Perafita in Porto, was printed in 9 days on budget using a COBOD BOD2 construction 3D printer operated by a four-person crew.

  • A 500 m² (5,400 ft²) recycling center office 3D printed in just 9 days in Perafita, Porto, Portugal
  • Executed by Havelar using a COBOD BOD2 printer with a crew of 4 people
  • Delivered on budget, highly uncommon for public construction in Portugal, while achieving curved-wall design only enabled by 3D printing
  • Part of Havelar’s growing portfolio: 32 housing units already 3D printed in Porto, with 53 more scheduled for 2026
Exterior view of the completed Ecocentro de Perafita office, Matosinhos, Portugal. The 500 m² structure was printed in 9 days using a COBOD BOD2 printer with a four-person crew.
Exterior view of the completed Ecocentro de Perafita office, Matosinhos, Portugal. The 500 m² structure was printed in 9 days using a COBOD BOD2 printer with a four-person crew.

The project demonstrates the benefits of construction 3D printing for public sector applications. Public construction projects in Portugal have historically faced cost overruns, making the budget-accurate delivery of this project particularly notable. The recycling center was completed exactly in line with its allocated budget, an outcome that the project partners described as uncommon for public works in the country.

The completed recycling center office exterior. Curved 3D printed concrete columns frame the entrance facade.
The completed recycling center office exterior. Curved 3D printed concrete columns frame the entrance facade.
Interior view showing the exposed 3D printed concrete walls and the curved wall geometry, which provides both structural stability and passive solar shading.
Interior view showing the exposed 3D printed concrete walls and the curved wall geometry, which provides both structural stability and passive solar shading.
The reception area of the completed building. The tapered 3D printed concrete column illustrates the complex geometries achievable with construction 3D printing.
The reception area of the completed building. The tapered 3D printed concrete column illustrates the complex geometries achievable with construction 3D printing.

The structure incorporates curved walls throughout — a feature that would add significant cost using conventional formwork, but which construction 3D printing produces directly from the digital model at no additional labor or material cost.

“The main advantage is time. In construction terms, it is a third: a third of the time, a third of the materials, and a third of the people. Here it is not just about the recycling aspect; it is also that we had a team of only four people to construct a building like this,” said José Maria Ferreira, Founder and CEO at Havelar (paraphrased from Portuguese).

Bárbara Rangel, Researcher at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, notes: “With 3D construction printing, trades can work in parallel; there is no waiting for walls or slabs to dry before the electrician, tiler, or carpenter comes in. The curved walls on the exterior also serve a structural purpose, and through the shade they generate, we are able to enhance solar gains through the interplay between shade and sun exposure.” (paraphrased from Portuguese)

Havelar has continued to build on this project’s success. Since completing the recycling center, the company has printed 32 housing units in Porto, and a further 53 houses are scheduled for construction later in 2026, extending construction 3D printing to residential applications across different regions of the country.

“Havelar delivered a public building on budget with a four-person crew and beat the conventional construction timeline. Construction 3D printing isn’t an alternative method anymore. For projects like this, it’s clearly the superior option,” said Philip Lund-Nielsen, Co-founder & CCO of COBOD International.

The Ecocentro de Perafita recycling center office under construction, Matosinhos, Portugal. The layered texture of the 3D printed concrete walls is visible on the right.
The Ecocentro de Perafita recycling center office under construction, Matosinhos, Portugal. The layered texture of the 3D printed concrete walls is visible on the right.

This project adds to a growing body of evidence that construction 3D printing is capable of delivering public buildings faster, at comparable or lower cost, and with greater design freedom than traditional methods. COBOD’s BOD2 printer, deployed by Havelar for this project, is part of a global fleet of COBOD machines that have been used to print residential, commercial, industrial, and public structures across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Asia.

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About COBOD International

COBOD is the global leader in construction 3D printing, with 90+ printers deployed across 35 countries. Headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, and backed by shareholders including General Electric, CEMEX, Holcim, and PERI, the company employs over 60 employees dedicated to making construction faster, more affordable, and more sustainable.

About Havelar

Havelar is a Portuguese construction company focused on sustainable residential and public development, combining architectural design with energy-efficient building methods. Using COBOD’s BOD2 construction 3D printer, Havelar has delivered multiple projects across Portugal, including the recycling center office for the municipality of Matosinhos and a growing portfolio of housing developments in Porto and beyond.

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