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See inside 2 3D-printed tiny home ADUs in LA made from recycled plastic

Brittany Chang   

See inside 2 3D-printed tiny home ADUs in LA made from recycled plastic
Brittany Chang/Insider
  • Los Angeles-based startup Azure is using recycled plastic to 3D print backyard studios and ADUs.
  • The startup will begin delivering its units this year.

Your recycled plastic water bottle and take-out container could become a 3D-printed tiny home in California.

Your recycled plastic water bottle and take-out container could become a 3D-printed tiny home in California.
Brittany Chang/Insider

Los Angeles-based startup Azure is using 3D printers to build backyard studios and accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

Los Angeles-based startup Azure is using 3D printers to build backyard studios and accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
Brittany Chang/Insider

But instead of constructing with a concrete mix like fellow startups Icon and Alquist …

But instead of constructing with a concrete mix like fellow startups Icon and Alquist …
Alquist

Source: Insider

… Azure Printed Homes is reducing, reusing, and recycling by using a printing material composed primarily of post-consumer plastic.

… Azure Printed Homes is reducing, reusing, and recycling by using a printing material composed primarily of post-consumer plastic.
Brittany Chang/Insider

Source: Insider

"Our supply chain should never be short in our lifetime," Ross Maguire, the cofounder of Azure, told Insider in August.

"Our supply chain should never be short in our lifetime," Ross Maguire, the cofounder of Azure, told Insider in August.
Plastic waste fills a dumpsite in Nairobi, Kenya, where countries in March agreed to start negotiating a global treaty on plastic pollution.      James Wakibia/SOPA Images

Source: Insider

In April 2022, Azure unveiled what it calls the world's first 3D-printed "backyard studio" made with this recycled material.

In April 2022, Azure unveiled what it calls the world
Azure Printed Homes

Source: Insider

And this year, the startup will begin delivering its preordered studios and ADUs to consumers …

And this year, the startup will begin delivering its preordered studios and ADUs to consumers …
Brittany Chang/Insider

… which will include 10 rental homes throughout Los Angeles and the neighboring Orange County, California.

… which will include 10 rental homes throughout Los Angeles and the neighboring Orange County, California.
Azure Printed Homes

Like other 3D printing construction-tech startups, Azure says it can construct its homes more efficiently than traditional construction, specifically 70% faster and 30% cheaper.

Like other 3D printing construction-tech startups, Azure says it can construct its homes more efficiently than traditional construction, specifically 70% faster and 30% cheaper.
Brittany Chang/Insider

Source: Insider

But unlike other companies that only print the walls of their homes …

But unlike other companies that only print the walls of their homes …
Icon's over 2,000-square-foot House Zero in Austin.      Brittany Chang/Insider

… Azure prints the floor, ceiling, and walls. An example of the white printed floor is shown below.

… Azure prints the floor, ceiling, and walls. An example of the white printed floor is shown below.
Brittany Chang/Insider

This streamlines the final on-site installation process, Maguire told Insider during a tour of the company's manufacturing site in Los Angeles in November 2022.

This streamlines the final on-site installation process, Maguire told Insider during a tour of the company
Brittany Chang/Insider

So when the team finishes printing and assembling its units in-house, all that's left to do is deliver the home to its customer, forklift or crane it onto its foundation …

So when the team finishes printing and assembling its units in-house, all that
Azure Printed Homes

… bolt it down, and plug it into the utilities.

… bolt it down, and plug it into the utilities.
Brittany Chang/Insider

Despite the unique plastic printing material, Azure's units still have design elements reminiscent of "traditional" — as far as this new tech goes —printed homes ...

Despite the unique plastic printing material, Azure
Brittany Chang/Insider

… like the layered printing pattern and curved walls shown below. Both are visual signatures of the construction-tech.

… like the layered printing pattern and curved walls shown below. Both are visual signatures of the construction-tech.
Brittany Chang/Insider

The two units shown below are Azure's first builds.

The two units shown below are Azure
Brittany Chang/Insider

This one is its backyard studio, a 120-square-foot room starting at $26,900.

This one is its backyard studio, a 120-square-foot room starting at $26,900.
Brittany Chang/Insider

This smaller unit take around 16 hours to print.

This smaller unit take around 16 hours to print.
Brittany Chang/Insider

But inside, there's almost no indication of its unique construction method.

But inside, there
Brittany Chang/Insider

The interior wood-lined floor, wall, and ceiling seamlessly blend together.

The interior wood-lined floor, wall, and ceiling seamlessly blend together.
Brittany Chang/Insider

And the smooth white walls don't have the same layered appearance as the exterior walls.

And the smooth white walls don
Brittany Chang/Insider

This unit may be small. But its uses are as endless as its owner's imagination, from a detached gym to a recording studio with some additional soundproofing …

This unit may be small. But its uses are as endless as its owner
Brittany Chang/Insider

… to a home office like the one shown below in Azure’s headquarters.

… to a home office like the one shown below in Azure’s headquarters.
Brittany Chang/Insider

Meanwhile, the backyard studio's larger counterpart, Azure's ADU series, operates more like a true tiny home.

Meanwhile, the backyard studio
Brittany Chang/Insider

These units start at 180 square feet with a price tag of $43,900.

These units start at 180 square feet with a price tag of $43,900.
Brittany Chang/Insider

Larger models can be built by connecting multiples of this module.

Larger models can be built by connecting multiples of this module.
Brittany Chang/Insider

Despite its small square footage, the unit below has space for a bathroom, kitchen, and couch or sleeper sofa for those who want a true studio apartment feel.

Despite its small square footage, the unit below has space for a bathroom, kitchen, and couch or sleeper sofa for those who want a true studio apartment feel.
Brittany Chang/Insider

This size makes it ideal for use as a backyard ADU guest home or rental property, a growing trend in the real estate market.

This size makes it ideal for use as a backyard ADU guest home or rental property, a growing trend in the real estate market.
Brittany Chang/Insider

So unsurprisingly, this tiny home is one of Azure's most popular sizes, Maguire told Insider.

So unsurprisingly, this tiny home is one of Azure
Brittany Chang/Insider

It takes over 20 hours to print an ADU of this size.

It takes over 20 hours to print an ADU of this size.
Brittany Chang/Insider

The one in these photos isn't complete yet.

The one in these photos isn
Brittany Chang/Insider

But you can already see features like the kitchen beginning to take shape.

But you can already see features like the kitchen beginning to take shape.
Brittany Chang/Insider

It takes about two days to install this ADU, Eidelman said, noting that the installation process will be longer for larger modules.

It takes about two days to install this ADU, Eidelman said, noting that the installation process will be longer for larger modules.
Brittany Chang/Insider

And within the next few months, you could see one of these printed homes around California.

And within the next few months, you could see one of these printed homes around California.
Brittany Chang/Insider

Azure’s 2023 deliveries will be some of the many 3D-printed homes that are projected to go up around the US this year.

Azure’s 2023 deliveries will be some of the many 3D-printed homes that are projected to go up around the US this year.
Brittany Chang/Insider

Alquist is working with Muscatine, Iowa, and the city's local organizations to print 10 homes in the new year.

Alquist is working with Muscatine, Iowa, and the city
Alquist

Source Insider

And down south, Alquist will work with Florida startup CPH-3D (Click, Print, Home) to begin construction on a Tampa, Florida home that's been listed at almost $600,000.

And down south, Alquist will work with Florida startup CPH-3D (Click, Print, Home) to begin construction on a Tampa, Florida home that
CPH-3D
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