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Kizuki 3D Printed Home passes strict seismic testing using Cobod 3D-printer technology.
Japan has approved its first two storey reinforced concrete home produced using 3D construction printing, after the structure met the country’s strict seismic design requirements. (Credit all images Onocom and COBOD.)
The 50 square metre Kizuki 3D Printed Home, completed in Miyagi Prefecture, was delivered by Kizuki in partnership with local builder Onocom using a customised Cobod 3D-printer. The approval marks a significant reference point for 3D printed earthquake compliant housing in one of the world’s most seismically active regions.
Japan records hundreds of thousands of seismic events each year and maintains some of the most demanding structural codes globally. Timber framing has traditionally dominated low rise housing because of its flexibility under tremor loading. Demonstrating that 3D printed reinforced concrete can satisfy the same performance criteria is a technical milestone for the sector.
Watch an overview of the Kizuki 3D printed home.
COBOD 3D printer enables complex geometry under seismic compliance
The two-storey dwelling comprises a 31 square metre ground floor and a 19 square metre upper floor. Inspired by cave forms, the design features longitudinally printed reinforced arches, continuous floor and roof slabs, and interior elements that extend the curved geometry throughout the structure.
A total of 39 cubic metres of concrete was printed, with the gantry system capable of operating from 0.5 metres below ground level to a height of seven metres. A four-person team operated the system across seasonal temperature ranges from below 10°C to above 35°C, requiring adjustments to material mixing and curing control to maintain structural integrity.
Interior views of the Kizuki 3D Printed Home in Miyagi Prefecture, showing the layered reinforced concrete walls, curved kitchen joinery and integrated staircase geometry produced using a Cobod 3D-printer. The project demonstrates how 3D printed earthquake compliant construction can extend from structural shell to detailed interior elements while meeting Japan’s seismic requirements.
Rika Igarashi, Chief Executive of Kizuki, said the company intends to extend its 3D printing capabilities beyond residential housing.
“Based on the knowledge gained through our recent residential construction project, we plan to expand the application of 3D printing technology into civil structures, disaster-prevention and defence infrastructure, and post-disaster reconstruction,” she said. “We are also developing a construction training program and a digital construction management system, aiming to establish a sustainable construction-industry model.”
Henrik Lund-Nielsen, General Manager of Cobod, said Japan’s regulatory environment provides a rigorous test case for structural validation.
“Japan has some of the most demanding seismic requirements in the world. Seeing a government approved two storey 3D-printed reinforced concrete house completed here confirms that 3D construction printing is ready for projects that rely on structural precision and consistent quality also in seismic areas,” he said.
Kizuki has indicated that further 3D printed structures are planned, with broader typologies under consideration as the technology progresses beyond single residential applications.
