# 3D-Printed Sand Castle Homes The 3M futureLab 2014 Project Creates Compact Living Spaces By Meghan Young | Published 2014-04-11 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3m-futurelab-2014 References: [psfk](http://www.psfk.com/2014/04/3d-printed-sandcastle-home.html) & [futurelabstudio.org](http://futurelabstudio.org/Peter-Ebner) With population still on the rise and cities not getting any bigger to accommodate the masses, [compact homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/miami-tiny-house) are becoming more and more in demand; enter the 3M futureLab 2014 project. Peter Ebner, an architect and professor born in Hallwang, Austria, and based in Munich, Germany, challenged his students to build a tiny, easily transportable [3D printed apartment](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/michael-hsu). Through the 3M futureLab 2014 project, they came up with a life-sized sand castles, of sorts. Constructed using a mixture of sand and glue, the 3M futureLab 2014 project saw that not only is the [50 square feet home](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cabanon) 3D printed, but also the thermal insulation, electricity, heating water, and sewage systems. It boasts a bed, kitchen, and bathroom (that comes complete with a foldable toilet). It is meant to target 25-35 year olds. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.4/10 - Popularity: 61% | Activity: 62% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Compact Living Spaces:** Creating tiny homes that are easily transportable and 3D printed could revolutionize housing for urban citizens. - **Integrated 3D Printing:** Using 3D printing to create entire homes, including insulation, electricity, and plumbing, could streamline the construction industry. - **Personalized Housing:** By using 3D printing technology to create custom living spaces, architects and developers can provide customized homes to meet specific needs and preferences. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Construction:** 3D printing technology could disrupt the construction industry by enabling faster, more efficient, and more sustainable types of building. - **Real Estate:** The ability to 3D print compact living spaces could impact the real estate industry by changing what is considered desirable for urban living. - **Architecture:** The integration of 3D printing technology in the design and construction of homes presents new opportunities for architects to experiment with new design concepts and create innovative housing solutions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Compact 3d-Printed Housing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tiny-house-lux.md) - [Fully Recyclable 3D-Printed Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biohome3d.md) - [Inaugural 3D-Printed Social Housing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lnen.md) - [Climate Relief Temporary Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/additive-manufacturing-homes-crisis.md) - [Organically Printed Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lib-earth-house.md) - [Reinvented Compact Living](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/affordable-housing-prototype.md) - [3D-Printed Neighborhood Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wolf-ranch.md) - [Multi-Storey 3D-Printed Houses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/qr3d.md) - [3D-Printed Sturdy Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cobod.md)