Azure Will Print You a Home and Delivery It
We all know that one of the major problems our world is facing is what to do with all the plastic waste. It seems like every day, there’s a new report of some tragic event involving marine life or landfills becoming overloaded with plastic trash. But what if we could do something productive with all that plastic waste? What if we could use it to build homes?
Thanks to Los Angeles-based startup Azure, that’s now possible. Azure is using recycled plastic to 3D print prefab homes. The homes are 70% faster and 30% cheaper to build than traditional methods, and they’re built to last. The company now sells several models ranging from a backyard studio to a two-bedroom ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit). So if you’re in the market for a new home, a backyard getaway, or an additional rental property, you might consider going green with an Azure 3D-printed home made from recycled plastic.
How It Works The process starts with sorting and shredding the plastic into small pieces. The plastic is then melted and extruded through a nozzle to create “strands” used as the building material. These strands are then layered to make the house's walls. Once the walls are complete, they’re filled with insulation and wiring and then covered with a layer of stucco. Voila! You’ve got yourself a brand new 3D-printed home made from recycled plastic.
The Benefits of an Azure Home There are many benefits to owning an Azure home made from recycled plastic. For one thing, they’re much cheaper to build than traditional homes. They’re also better for the environment since they don’t require any trees to be cut down (recycled plastic is the only building material used). And since they’re prefabricated, they can be assembled much faster than traditional homes. That means you could have your brand new home in as little as a few weeks!
The Cost The Backyard Studio, known as the Azure Sky, consists of 120 square feet, and the pricing starts at $26,900. Consider this an add-on to your existing home and use it as a personal office, art studio, fitness center, or even a gaming room.
Moving up from the Backyard Studio comes the additional living space category of ADUs. The starting cost of an ADU Iris at 180 square feet is roughly $43,500 and looks like this:
A typical floorplan looks like this:
Double your living area to 360 sq ft, and you can get the Marina at a starting price of $85,900.
After the Marina, you will find the Coral (540 sq ft/$125,900), the Ocean (720sq ft/$166,900), and capped off by the Sapphire (900 sq ft and $204,900). Keep in mind all of this pricing is before taxes and delivery, which could be a sizeable amount unto itself based on where you live.
Are There Any Downsides? As with anything, there are always going to be some downsides. One downside of living in an Azure home is that your city or town might not accept it due to zoning laws. If you are using this as a “living dwelling,” you must fully buy into the “tiny home concept.” Another potential downside is that these homes have only been around for a few years, so we don’t yet know how they’ll hold up over time. Only time will tell if Azure’s homes are truly built to last. Conclusion: If you’re in the market for a new home or even just a backyard getaway, you might want to consider going green with an Azure 3D-printed home made from recycled plastic. These homes are good for the environment and your wallet and can be built in as little as a few weeks, provided demand isn’t exponential. Indeed, there is more than enough plastic to be had!