It feels like the construction of new homes is fairly uniform, with traditional building materials remaining unchanged for generations. Sure, there has been modernisation in the way that these materials are prepared, and of course construction methods have advanced over the years. In the coming years you might well be living in a home that has been made from 3D printed materials, or made of plastic bricks. You could even live in a repurposed shipping container, and there are already a number of these homes in Australia and around the world. So what are the benefits of these innovative building materials and methods?
1. 3D Printed Homes
It seems like something out of Star Trek, where a machine can create something out of seemingly nothing. 3D printed buildings are made with a variety of often recycled materials, making this an innovative and technologically amazing method of construction. It's not something that is only a theory either, and an entire apartment building in China has been made with 3D printing. In the not too distant future, construction companies in Australia might offer the service to create components of new homes when renovations are required, or even to build new homes from scratch. It has even been speculated that construction costs will drop as the technology becomes more accessible. Perhaps one day soon you will be living in a home that came out of a 3D printer.
2. Plastic Homes
While this method is being utilised in impoverished communities where suitable building materials are scarce, it wouldn't be surprising if this innovation became mainstream. These plastic homes are made from a number of interlocking plastic bricks made from recycled materials, so it's like building something from LEGO. The bricks click into place until they have achieved the predetermined design, and once the site has been prepared, the idea is that the future occupants will be able to do most of the work themselves. The bricks are treated with a fire retardant, and their flexible composition gives them a lot of resistance against earthquakes. The low-cost and ease of construction means that there's no reason why this method could not be used in other parts of the world.
3. Shipping Containers
It's interesting that this method is not used more often in Australia. It's fairly straightforward for disused shipping containers to be converted into dwellings, and entire luxury homes have been constructed in this way. The containers are generally prepared off-site, and are then delivered and installed. It can be like having a new home appear within hours! They're also a cost-effective method for home extensions, wherein the prepared shipping container is attached to your existing home. Don't worry, since it doesn't necessarily have to look like a shipping container has been stuck to your house. A facade can be applied to the container extension to match it to your home's design and colouring.
So while some of these building materials and methods are yet to become mainstream, it's interesting to think that homes might be made in a rather different way before too long.
Share11 August 2016
Choosing furniture is exciting, and it has many different facets. In some cases, you may simply want furniture that is purely decorative, such as a transitional table to hold a vase full of flowers in your hallway. In other cases, you may need furniture that is very functional such as a desk that has places to store files, a cork board for hanging memos and a work surface. Whether you are thinking about investing in functional or decorative furniture, you need tips to help you choose it and take care of it. This blog aims to fill that gap. I plan to include posts that look at furniture from a wide range of angles, and I hope these ideas help you.
