Poo as building material
When we knew we wanted to make houses out of cow dung, we started to do research into the projects that already existed. It became clear that cow dung has been used in indigenous cultures for centuries as a plaster for houses. It is also used in the composition of bricks for adobe housing. Furthermore, some start-ups are also researching the potential of manure as a construction
material. It became clear to us that cow dung can have a lot of potential as a natural building material.
When we knew we wanted to make houses out of cow dung, we started to do research into the projects that already existed. It became clear that cow dung has been used in indigenous cultures for centuries as a plaster for houses. It is also used in the composition of bricks for adobe housing. Furthermore, some start-ups are also researching the potential of manure as a construction
material. It became clear to us that cow dung can have a lot of potential as a natural building material.
3D-printing
While building on the knowledge of these traditional and pioneering manure initiatives, we were thinking of a new and innovative way of processing cow dung as a building material. The aha-moment came when we considered the perspective of the cow. While observing the creator of our raw material, what stood out was the resemblance between the excretion process of the animal and the 3D printing process. We thought: a pooping cow is like a living 3D printer. At that moment, the idea was born: we wanted to 3D-print houses out of cow dung. We saw a lot of potential in the material, and we fell in love with its unconventionality.
While building on the knowledge of these traditional and pioneering manure initiatives, we were thinking of a new and innovative way of processing cow dung as a building material. The aha-moment came when we considered the perspective of the cow. While observing the creator of our raw material, what stood out was the resemblance between the excretion process of the animal and the 3D printing process. We thought: a pooping cow is like a living 3D printer. At that moment, the idea was born: we wanted to 3D-print houses out of cow dung. We saw a lot of potential in the material, and we fell in love with its unconventionality.
3D printing poo houses
We think that 3D printing houses out of cow dung could offer a cheap and sustainable solution to conventional building methods and materials. First, because the poo captures the nitrogen. Second, because 3D printing uses less material, less labor costs and is a fast production method. And third, because cow poo is so abundant: we made a rough calculation which showed that we would be able to build approximately 1.5 million houses out of manure every year in the Netherlands.
We think that 3D printing houses out of cow dung could offer a cheap and sustainable solution to conventional building methods and materials. First, because the poo captures the nitrogen. Second, because 3D printing uses less material, less labor costs and is a fast production method. And third, because cow poo is so abundant: we made a rough calculation which showed that we would be able to build approximately 1.5 million houses out of manure every year in the Netherlands.
