KENYA: Holcim is using 3D printing to build 72 affordable houses in a joint venture with the CDC Group, the UK government’s development finance institution.

Capitalising on its experience with 3D building of a school in Malawi, the new Mvule Gardens complex in Kilifi near Mombasa is using Holcim’s proprietary TectorPrint ink that provides the necessary load-bearing strength to housing walls.

The technique can reduce the environmental footprint of a house by more than 50 percent with the walls built in 12 hours compared to almost four days with conventional building techniques.

The housing project is part of the Green Heart of Kenya regenerative ecosystem, a model that has won an IFC-EDGE Advanced sustainable design certification for resource-efficient and zero-carbon buildings.

“With today’s rapid urbanization, over three billion people are expected to need affordable housing by 2030,” said Holcim CEO Jan Jenisch: “This issue is most acute in Africa, with countries like Kenya already facing an estimated shortage of two million houses. By deploying 3D printing, we can address this infrastructure gap at scale to increase living standards for all.”

After 70 years of supporting overseas development, CDC will become British International Investment plc next April and says it will invest over £3 billion in climate finance by 2026. Funded by the British government, it is a founding member of the 2X challenge that has raised US$10 billion to empower women’s economic development.