Certainly not stopping themselves at that, in May 2016, they further went on to build the World's First 3D Printed Structure - 'The Office of the Future'. Standing true to its name, the office space outside Emirates Towers has been working functionally since then and has garnered a lot of attention globally. It was inaugurated at a grand scale by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Surpassing all of their previous technological invention records, what Dubai has now managed to achieve will amaze you like never before. Recently, in November 2019, the country that has been enticing more and more visitors every year, created yet another record by constructing the World's Largest 3D Printed Building at Al Warsan.

This structure is the first of its kind two-storey building that will serve as an Administrative Quarters for Dubai Municipality Body. The project is believed to have been tested for about a year to make sure that all the building codes of Warsan are in place.

Students and professionals from architecture and construction fraternity have been aware about the technology of creating models by using 3D Printing technique but converting those models into live scale projects is a risk taken by US-based company, Apis Cor who conceptualised and executed the project.

The Administrative building covers an area of 6,900 sq.ft. with its walls going up at 31 feet height, incorporating functional interior spaces alongside. It uses the theory of cavity wall in order to provide thermal insulation. This path breaking project promotes the concept of sustainability with respect to use of local materials and resources thereby reducing energy consumption and entailing huge cost savings on labor & transportation.

An important highlight of the project was the speedy process of execution - the structure was built merely in 48 hours in the presence of 15 workers and an industrial size 3D Printer which was mobilised on site with the help of a crane! The process began by figuring out the path of construction which was mapped with the help of a computer. Once the route was decided, a fluid material pervaded by minerals was laid out over the path. On solidifying into concrete, the walls of the structure were then placed on the concrete foundation by the 3D Printer.

Instead of playing safe by constructing less complex and linear forms, the Architects intentionally experimented with curvilinear geometry in the structure to test the replication ability of a 3D Printer. The windows and roof were later installed by the contractors on site.

3D Printing Technology in the field of architecture and construction beholds an immense potential to transform the creative picture for the future generations. It adds an entirely new dimension to the statistics of construction resources and design innovations. While the technology in its current state does not prove beneficial for large scale industrial projects since the printer costs exceed the budgets, it surely marks its vital need for customized and modular structures.

The process claims to generate 60% less wastage thereby being an environmental friendly initiative. The officials plan to execute 25% of Dubai's buildings with the help of a 3D Printer by the end of this decade. As and when that happens, it is sure to transform the future of design!