Larsen & Toubro, one of India’s leading engineering and construction conglomerates, is preparing to complete its next project in Bengaluru: India’s first 3D printed villas. This is a collection of six high-end villas totaling 24,000 square feet, developed by Prestige Constructions project in the eastern peripheral suburb of Varthur.
The 3D printing portion of the project is nearly finished, and the remaining mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering (MEP) work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
India’s First 3D Printed Villas in Bengaluru
The project includes six villas, each covering 4000 square feet. The project is expected to cost more than INR 60 crore (Rs. 10 crore for each villa), making it India’s most prestigious construction 3D printing project.
L&T has a reputation for bringing prestigious and even complex projects to life, and this new 3D printed villa project adds to its extensive portfolio. With this project, the company hopes to gain a foothold in the construction 3D printing market, which is becoming increasingly popular in Western countries.
“Construction costs do not differ significantly due to adoption of the 3D-printing technique. Labour costs and timelines, however, dive substantially, by 50% and 60% respectively. Additional advantage of 3D printed structures is a difference of 3-4 degrees centigrade between the outside and inside. So, it will be cooler in summer and warmer in winter.”
M V Satish, Eecutive committee member at L&T and advisor to the chairman and managing director (Buildings & Factories)
Construction on the six villas began in January 2024 and is expected to be completed by October. This reflects a 10-month timeline rather than the 36-month timeline typically required for a residential project built using traditional methods.
“For a single unit, 3D printing would be more expensive than conventional construction. But when multiple units are being constructed, 3D printing can be a viable option, and independent units can be designed with unique features, which is not possible in conventional construction.”
Manu Santhanam, professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at IIT-Madras
Moving ahead, the company is exploring building two projects, one in Bengaluru and the other in Pune.
Previous Projects
Earlier this year, L&T Construction built a 1,000-square-foot post office facility at Cambridge Layout in Ulsoor last year. The construction took 43 days and cost ₹23 lakh.
L&T has completed four projects totalling approximately 1.2 lakh square feet using the 3D-printing technique to date. These projects include Grasim Industries’ 10,000-square-foot ancillary building near Chennai and the Border Roads Organisation’s 50,000-square-foot facility in Chandigarh.
