First 3D Printed House in Central Asia Constructed to Withstand Earthquakes of 7 on the Richter Scale
- BM Partners completes Central Asia's first 3D printed house in Almaty, Kazakhstan, adhering to strict seismic regulations.
- Using extra strong concrete normally used for highly loaded structures like skyscrapers and bridges, and other seismic precautions, the house is made to withstand earthquakes of 7 on the Richter scale.
- The entire building, featuring 100 m2 (1076 SF), was constructed in less than two months, with the walls printed in just five days.
- To cope with the extreme temperature variations in Kazakhstan the building also contains expanded polystyrene concrete for insulation.
The first 3D printed housing in Kazakhstan printed with extra strong concrete and constructed to withstand earthquakes of up to 7 on the Richter scale.
Almaty, Kazakhstan – BM Partners, a first of its kind 3D construction printing company in Kazakhstan, created a subsidiary company called BM Partners 3D Print, which as the first company in Kazakhstan, now has successfully completed Central Asia's first 3D printed house.
The building is located in Almaty, the largest city of Kazakhstan, but also a city categorized within a high-risk zone for severe seismic activity according to the Richter scale.
The building has been constructed to withstand an earthquake with a strength of 7, reflecting rigorous adherence to engineering principles and building codes aimed at ensuring safety and structural integrity during significant seismic events.
The building spans a floor area of 100 m2 (1076 SF) and incorporates construction techniques specifically designed to withstand earthquakes. Despite this the entire project was completed in less than two months, from initial printer set up to finalized interior and furnishings. Remarkably, the walls were 3D printed in just five days, with an additional two days dedicated to the installation of a seismic beam belt in accordance with local building codes. The reinforced concrete envelope, encircling the entire structure, is essential for enhancing the structural integrity of houses in earthquake-prone areas. The beam belt is generating the characteristic upper part of the building.
Kazakhstan’s first 3D printed house was completed in under two months, from the initial printer setup to the final interior and furnishing works, demonstrating the potential for significantly accelerated construction timelines even when earthquake precautions are included, like the beam belt leading to the charactistic upper part of the building.
Marat Oshakhtiev, CEO of BM Partners, shared the vision driving the project: "Embracing modern technologies is essential in today's world. Our company is committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements with 3D construction printing within our country. With this project, our company has confidently stepped into the future, addressing Kazakhstan’s urgent need for earthquake resistant modernized, efficient and resilient housing solutions".
To enhance the building’s structural integrity, BM Partners used a special strong concrete mix with a compression strength of almost 60 MPa (8500 PSI), substantially exceeding the 7-10 MPa (1015-1450 PSI) typical of conventional brick and stone used in Kazakhstan. This mix, comprising locally sourced cement, sand, and gravel enhanced with the D.fab admixture, a joint development of COBOD International and Cemex, allows for customized concrete formulations tailored to regional needs.
Considering Kazakhstan's extreme climate conditions, varying from minus 57 to plus 49 degrees Celsius (minus 135 to plus 120 degrees Fahrenheit), the building incorporates expanded polystyrene concrete as insulation for the walls, enhancing both the thermal and acoustic performance of the wall.
Henrik Lund-Nielsen, Founder and General Manager of COBOD International, stated: “This project once again demonstrates that 3D printed buildings are built to last, also when made in earthquake high-risk areas. We are proud to have developed the solution that enabled BM Partners to complete this project fully within just two months and using extra strong 3D printable concrete made from locally sourced materials”.
The building will function as a showroom to demonstrate the advanced capabilities of modern construction technology and is now open to its first visitors.
About Us
COBOD stands as the global leader in supplying 3D printers for the construction sector, promoting over 80 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, tanks, 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 BM PARTNERS
BM Partners 3D Print was founded in 2022. in the same year our company received the second category license Ha construction design. We have adopted the experience of the European company COBOD in 3D construction and acquired the equipment with which the work process is now carried out.
Our team consists of professionals with many years of experience in the construction industry, who love their specialty and want to contribute to the development of the construction industry in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the entire Central Asian region!
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