Project Home

Can 3D printed houses solve the global housing crisis? Tech entrepreneurs test the limits of this new construction method as families’ futures hang in the balance.

In the modern world, the notion of “home” is associated with feelings of warmth, security, and a sheltered place to rest. But for more than 1.3 billion people that idea is merely a dream. Many families around the world live in extreme poverty, “home” is cramped and cold—exposed to the environment and lacking security, plumbing, and clean water.

Local economic, cultural, and political conditions often keep the people in these neighbourhoods from moving forward. No matter the country or government, affordable housing is not accessible for many people in our world for a variety of reasons.

Project Home is a documentary film that explores the innovative use of 3D printing technology to address many issues of the global housing crisis. Tech entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations are developing communities and building houses using this new construction method, and this film documents the stories of two single working mothers who benefit from their work. These two women are able to buy their first homes thanks to 3D printing technology.

The first mother lives in an impoverished village in Mexico where New Story and Icon are building a community of 3D printed houses. The second mother lives in Virginia where Habitat for Humanity is sponsoring her new home. In the film, both women share their struggle to find affordable and safe housing, and then you see how their lives will be transformed by the opportunity to own their own homes. The journey isn’t without struggle, a lot of patience, and hard work. There are many obstacles to overcome.

Even with this amazing technology, these women and their families do not experience instant gratification. The process of 3D printing a home comes with its own unique challenges. The film follows the process of 3D printing houses in two very different locations, Virginia and a small village in Mexico, and the struggles in both locations. Project Home allows the viewer to see the difficulties builders face with this new technology but also shows how the innovators persevere.

The use of 3D printing technology not only reduces the cost and time required to build a house but also provides a solution to the shortage of skilled labour in the construction industry. Project Home highlights the power of market-based innovation and entrepreneurship to provide affordable housing to disadvantaged communities around the world, putting people on a new path toward safety and economic mobility. The film demonstrates how technology can be used for social good and the positive impact that it can have on people’s lives.