BM Partners, a first-of-its kind 3D construction printing company in Kazakhstan, has now 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 the initial printer set up to the 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 characteristic upper part of the building.

Emphasizing that embracing modern technologies is essential in today’s world, Marat Oshakhtiev, CEO, BM Partners, shared, “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 -57 to +49 degrees Celsius (-135 to +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, 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 use 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.

For more information: www.cobod.com