Review of 3D Printing in Architecture: applications, limitations and future developments

Additive manufacturing has seen a growing interest in the construction industry in the last few years. Along with the possibility of using plastics, cement, clay, mixtures, and so many other materials, the opportunities offered by such technologies mainly rely on the free-shaping of complex geometries and the high customizability of the products. Nowadays, the aim of integrating additive manufacturing processes in the construction stages is to reduce waste materials and reduce the overall environmental impact. This review summarizes the current state-of-art of additive manufacturing, mainly 3D printing, applied to architecture, in current research activities, and actual built projects. The aim is to delineate a comprehensive scenario of its possible applications and current limitations, finally suggesting the opportunities for future investigations.