As housing pressures mount across the country—from workforce shortages to material inflation—builders and developers are increasingly exploring new ways to deliver faster, more sustainable homes. And at the centre of this next frontier? A machine that prints walls.

3D printed homes, once considered futuristic novelty, are now a functioning reality in Australia. With Western Australia’s Contec Australia completing the nation’s first multi-storey 3D printed concrete home this month, the industry is beginning to take notice.

But this isn’t just a story about concrete and code. It’s about the builders, innovators and regulators reshaping how homes are delivered in a country desperate for housing supply.

Breaking Ground in WA

In the Perth suburb of Tapping, a modest two-storey home has made history. Completed by Contec Australia, WA’s only operational 3D concrete printing company, the project involved printing the structural walls in just 18 hours of active print time. The full build—from slab to handover was completed in five months.

Founder Mark D’Alessandro, a qualified builder and quantity surveyor with two decades of experience, believes the technology isn’t here to replace traditional trades but to support them.

“Meeting future housing demand will require more than traditional approaches alone,” he told The Good Builder. “3D concrete printing offers an innovative solution that complements existing methods, delivering projects with greater speed, cost efficiencies, sustainability, and design flexibility.”

D’Alessandro also leads JCM Property Group, a commercial construction company that builds everything from childcare centres to apartment complexes. “I’ve lived the issues the industry is facing,” he said. “That’s why we designed a solution that builders can actually use.”

Why Builders Are Watching Closely

The potential advantages of 3D printing aren’t just theoretical. Contec’s mobile printer roughly the size of a forklift operates onsite with minimal setup, requires no scaffolding, and prints at 500mm per second. Conduits, openings and curved forms can all be integrated during the print itself, reducing follow-up trades and rework.

From a builder’s perspective, that means:

• Shorter timelines
• Less manual labour
• Lower waste
• More design freedom
• Improved site safety

It also addresses one of the biggest issues confronting builders nationwide: labour constraints.

“We’re struggling to find bricklayers, formworkers, even general labour,” one Perth-based builder said, “If 3D printing can knock weeks off a schedule and reduce site congestion, that’s something we’ll look at seriously.”

It’s Not Just a WA Thing

While Contec is leading the charge in Western Australia, they’re not alone nationally. A number of Australian companies are exploring similar paths.

In Victoria, startup Fortex 3D is prototyping modular granny flats and small dwellings with the goal of scaling up to affordable housing estates. In Queensland, R&D-backed firm BuildFast3D is working on high-speed on-site printers for social and remote housing delivery.

Australia’s CSIRO and several universities are also researching 3D concrete printing, focusing on sustainability, bushfire resilience, and site-specific material blends.

Still, it’s the builders willing to take the plunge—like Contec—that are turning theory into practice.

But What About Compliance?

One of the biggest hurdles facing 3D printed construction is regulatory alignment.

Australia’s National Construction Code (NCC) doesn’t yet specifically reference 3D printing as a construction method. But builders like D’Alessandro have found ways to work within the existing framework.

“We’re using concrete that reaches 50MPa, more than triple the strength of standard bricks,” he said. “Our walls are cyclone rated, fire and water resistant, termite-proof and thermally efficient. So we’re exceeding a lot of compliance benchmarks already.”

The in-situ nature of the prints—done directly on-site, layer by layer—means banks and insurers treat them like any traditional build. That’s an important distinction from modular or prefabricated homes, which can face resistance from lenders.

“We’ve had no issues getting funding or approvals,” D’Alessandro said. “That’s a big win for builders and clients.”

Design Without Compromise

If you think a 3D printed home means cookie-cutter grey boxes, think again.

Architectural freedom is one of the biggest upsides of the technology. Curves, detailing, voids, and decorative patterns can all be printed with precision, at no additional cost compared to straight-line builds.

It’s a shift that excites some designers. One Perth architect working with Contec called the process “liberating,” noting that “we can push the form and still deliver on budget.”

With integrated printing of electrical conduits and plumbing chases, design and delivery are becoming more seamless. “We’re not just cutting costs,” D’Alessandro added. “We’re improving quality and consistency too.”

A Smaller Carbon Footprint

Sustainability is another key drawcard.

Contec’s proprietary concrete mix reportedly generates 30% less CO₂ than traditional blends. Each printed home produces only one wheelbarrow of waste—compared to traditional methods that can generate truckloads of offcuts, over-ordering and landfill.

The reduced transport and material handling requirements also cut emissions and congestion around job sites.

“We’re not just building differently—we’re building smarter,” said D’Alessandro. “Builders want to do the right thing environmentally. We’re giving them a way to do it without blowing the budget.”

What’s Holding the Industry Back?

Despite its benefits, widespread adoption will take time. There are still questions about long-term performance, industry familiarity, and availability of printers and materials at scale.

Training is also a gap. As one project manager put it, “the printer doesn’t run itself—you still need operators, software, and coordination with other trades.”

Nonetheless, momentum is building. And with early adopters now demonstrating real-world outcomes—not just renders and pilot projects—the construction industry is watching with interest.

The TGB Take

At The Good Builder, we believe 3D printed construction has moved beyond buzzword status. The Tapping home isn’t just a milestone—it’s a message.

This isn’t about replacing trades. It’s about solving real problems—labour shortages, rising costs, carbon intensity—using tools that are available now.

Builders who partner with forward-thinking suppliers, and who aren’t afraid to test new delivery models, will have a competitive edge in the next decade. And clients will benefit from faster, stronger, more affordable homes.

The future of building might not be entirely robotic. But with the right people, training, and mindset—it might just be printed.

Author: TGB Editorial