PERI to print Europe’s first 3D printed social housing apartment building in the North Rhine-Westphalian city of Lünen, Germany, using COBOD’s 3D construction printer. This is also a milestone for 3D concrete printing and PERI’s third larger-scale construction project in Germany.

The social housing apartment building will have three floors and six units ranging from 61 sqm to 81 sqm. The total built-up area will be 651 sqm. The first and second floors are being constructed using a 3D concrete printing process, while the top floor is being built using a timber hybrid construction method.

Ina Scharrenbach, Minister for Home Affairs, Municipal Affairs, Construction and Digitalization of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, says: “With the pioneering project in Lünen, we are showing that public housing can be built quickly, modernly, and sustainably despite these challenging times. North Rhine-Westphalia is setting standards in construction and continuing to push for more affordable housing.”

Henrik Lund-Nielsen, Founder & General Manager of COBOD International, commented on the wider adoption of the 3D construction printing method: “This project continues the trend that we have seen the last couple of years, where the technology has made some remarkable leaps forward, moving away from just being used for small houses on one floor to also being used for larger and larger projects with multiple floors also outside the residential market. PERI’s German projects in 2023 including the data center, football clubhouse and now an apartment building are a testament to this trend.”