IIT Madras Engineers Built 3D Printer Technology For Building A 320 Sq Ft House In Just 3 Days

Yesterday, we talked about how a team from IIT Madras have built India's first locally-designed microprocessor. It turns out they have another first under their belt.

Another team of alumni from the university made India's very first 3D printed construction, using a printer of their design.

Tvasta founders (from L-R) Santhosh Kumar V, Adithya VS, Vidyashankar C Iyer, and Parivarthan Reddy B.

Santhosh Kumar V, Adithya VS, Vidyashankar C Iyer, and Parivarthan Reddy B, are alumni IIT Madras. They're also the founders of Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions, a new startup in the 3D printing construction technology. Together with the college's civil engineering department at, they've set up the IIT Madras Printability Lab, a 3D printing lab focused on developing ideas and technology to apply to the large scale construction industry.

The four youth want to take development to the point where construction can be automated, right from placing foundation stones to finishing exteriors. As a proof-of-concept, they decide to "print" a 320 square foot single storey hut.

They did it in just three days.

It's far too small to accommodate anyone of course, and doesn't have basic facilities, but that doesn't matter. It's just a prototype after all. Now that the four have proven how relatively easily it can be done, the sky is the limit for Tvasta. From here on out, they're accelerating development in order to in future be able to build affordable sanitation and housing, all with 3D printing.

Also Read: This Charity Is 3D-Printing Homes In Poor Countries For Just Rs 2.6 Lakh And Under 24 Hours

Professor Koshy Varghese, from the Department of Civil Engineering at IIT Madras, says his team have been working on developing 3D printing technology for construction since 2016. Now, part of the plan is to work with government agencies to spread their knowledge, and establish build processes and safety standards to take the technology mainstream.

It's not the first time, 3D printing has been used for constructing cheap housing, but it is a significant development, being the first Indian group to do so. There are major benefits to printing a house as opposed to traditional construction methods. For one, aside from an initial investment cost for the machines, the process is cheaper than employing only human labour, as well as much faster. Additionally, with the right kind of concrete mixture, 3D printers can produce much more complex shapes and styles of buildings, which could help with providing more residential space from limited build area.

Adithya, one of Tvasta's founders, says the next major goal for the group is to build India's first 3D printed house within the next year. After that, who knows how many of India's street dwellers could have their very own 3D printed homes?