Havelar Builds Public Recycling Center Office in 9 Days Using COBOD 3D Printer

Portuguese construction 3D printing company Havelar has successfully delivered a public building for the municipality of Matosinhos, employing construction 3D printing technology from COBOD. The project, a 500 m² (5,400 ft²) office for the Ecocentro de Perafita in Porto, was printed in a total of nine days and remained within budget. The operation was carried out by a four-person crew using a COBOD BOD2 construction 3D printer.

This latest project adds to Havelar's growing portfolio of 3D printed buildings in Porto, which now stands at 32 structures. The company has scheduled over 50 more constructions for 2026. A key design feature of the new office is its incorporation of curved walls throughout. This architectural element, which would significantly increase costs with traditional formwork methods, is produced directly from the digital model using 3D printing without additional labor or material expenses.

According to Havelar's Founder and CEO, José Maria Ferreira, construction 3D printing offers substantial advantages in terms of efficiency. He noted that it can reduce project timelines, material usage, and labor requirements by approximately one-third compared to conventional building methods. The efficiency of the four-person crew in constructing the building was highlighted as a significant benefit.

Bárbara Rangel, a researcher at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, pointed out that 3D construction printing allows for parallel work by different trades, eliminating delays associated with drying times for walls or slabs. She also mentioned that the exterior curved walls serve a structural purpose and contribute to solar gain management by creating interplay between shade and sun exposure.