For over a century, residential on-site construction in Australia, and globally, has relied on labour-intensive processes, brick-and-block assemblies, and a management-contracting/sub-contracting operating model, one that is better suited to commercial projects than house building. Today’s traditional builders face chronic supply-chain disruptions, spiralling material costs, and an acute shortage of skilled trades.

As labour and material prices surged by more than 53 percent in Australia over the past five years, build times stretched to an average of 12 months compared to the pre-COVID standard of seven months. Roughly half of all registered builders have become insolvent in the past four years, with the construction sector accounting for over 3,400 insolvencies in 2024–25 alone. Incremental improvements are no longer enough; bold, systemic change is needed to keep up with demand.

Australia’s unprecedented housing crisis has transformed innovation from a competitive advantage into a genuine necessity. Modular construction solutions, although available for over 70 years, have not proven cost-effective compared to traditional construction methods, particularly in urban areas, limiting their widespread adoption.

Median home prices have risen by over 75 percent in some regions in the past five years. The skilled labour shortage has worsened, compounded by mass immigration and an aging workforce, with 25 percent of skilled tradespeople over 55. Traditional methods can no longer meet the rising demand. Governments, housing associations, and community groups are actively seeking faster, more affordable, and more resilient solutions.

After years of incremental trials and pilot projects, the market is now ready for a permanent Modern Method of Construction: On-site 3D concrete printing. This approach introduces an industrial revolution process to on-site residential construction for the first time.

HOUS3D, through its exclusive partnership with SQ4D Industries from the United States, is leading this transformation. Using SQ4D’s Autonomous Robotic Construction System (ARCS), these printers can construct formwork, footings, ground slabs, suspended slabs, and walls up to three storeys high, all on-site without relying on multiple trades. This comprehensive robotics and additive manufacturing solution reduces construction time by up to 75 percent, enabling turnkey homes to be completed in as little as twelve weeks, compared to the current 12-month average. Labour dependency is reduced by 70 percent, significantly improving safety and cost predictability by assigning repetitive and hazardous tasks to robots instead of bricklayers and carpenters.

The advantages of 3D concrete printing extend beyond speed and cost. Precise, layer-by-layer material deposition reduces waste by up to 50 percent. Proprietary cementitious mixes can incorporate industrial by-products and recycled aggregates, lowering carbon emissions and supporting circular-economy goals. Architects gain the freedom to design complex structures, including vaulted ceilings and curved façades, without the need for costly moulds or formwork. In remote and regional communities facing severe labour shortages, mobile gantry printers can rapidly construct social and key-worker housing.

Early adopters have demonstrated 3DCP’s effectiveness across various projects. In the Netherlands, the Milestone project delivered code-compliant affordable homes in under three weeks, while a pedestrian bridge in Nijmegen used printed segments, reducing concrete usage by 50 percent and accelerating installation. Australian pilot projects by Contour3D and Luyten 3D successfully produced single-storey homes for private and social housing, proving structural integrity and gaining community acceptance. These initiatives have also helped establish pathways for regulatory approval as building codes adapt to accommodate additive manufacturing methods.

Adopting new construction technology fundamentally depends on the operating model. Traditional builders predominantly use a management contracting model, introducing significant risk complexities, especially during skilled trade shortages. Builders often struggle to maintain budgets and timelines when sub-contractors cannot deliver services at contracted prices.

An in-house employment model effectively mitigates these risks by emphasising cash-flow stability, profitability, and operational proficiency as core financial principles. Employing machine operators and skilled trades directly, rather than relying on subcontractors, ensures accurate cost control from initial project feasibility through to completion, reducing reliance on multiple tender cycles within a single project. In today’s volatile Australian market, builders not adopting this model remain vulnerable to rapidly changing conditions.

Successful implementation of an in-house employment model hinges on sustained demand. Currently, this demand is underpinned by Australia’s national housing shortage, the construction industry’s inability to keep pace, and the largest government-funded housing initiative in Australian history. The federal government’s National Housing Accord aims to build 1.2 million homes by 2029, complemented by state budgets allocating billions towards affordable housing, regional development, and innovation.

Regulatory reforms, championed by ministers like Clare O’Neil and supported by cross-party initiatives, are further lowering barriers for modern construction methods and promoting automation. HOUS3D and SQ4D’s comprehensive 3DCP model aligns perfectly with these policy frameworks, accelerating housing delivery and maximising public investment value.

As construction enters its fourth industrial revolution, robotics, AI-driven design, and advanced materials promise to revolutionise how Australia builds homes and communities. HOUS3D and SQ4D are poised to lead this change, merging cutting-edge automation with extensive construction expertise, offering faster, stronger, and more cost-effective housing solutions.

The era of incremental improvement is over; it’s time to build our future, layer by layer.

Graeme PatersonFounder of HOUS3D

Graeme is a qualified Quantity Surveyor with over 18 years of experience in commercial construction. His extensive expertise spans quantity surveying, budget-focused design and procurement, project estimation, acquisition, and management, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget. Graeme has held senior roles as a Quantity Surveyor, and Senior Estimator, bringing a well-rounded perspective to every project he undertakes.

His project portfolio is diverse, including Premier League Stadia, large-scale social and affordable housing estates, Commonwealth Games villages, shopping centres, supermarkets, hotels, apartments, prisons, aged care facilities, mining sites, and schools. With experience across a wide range of construction materials and methods, Graeme is uniquely positioned to identify the most effective solutions for this future industry.

Specialising in risk management and cost-effective innovations, Graeme has been researching 3D printing technology for over a decade. His thorough understanding of construction solutions, supply chains procurement, labour needs, and cost feasibility has led him to champion 3D printing for Australia.

website www.hous3d.com.au

Oryginally published on:

https://spektrumlab.io/its-time-to-change-the-way-australia-is-built-article-by-graeme-paterson/