Grange Close Residential Housing Scheme

Design Proposal

The Grange Close project, launched by Louth County Council in response to the social housing shortage, sought to utilise 3DCP technology. This pilot initiative in Dundalk assessed the feasibility of employing 3DCP in housing construction to address the existing demand for social housing in Co. Louth, within the Mid-East region (Louth, Kildare, Meath, and Wicklow), where 7,878 households require housing.

The Grange Close Project was designed based on the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage guidelines, as laid out in the Design Manual for Quality Housing.

The project's design and site layout are consistent with compact growth, assisting in the delivery of high-quality and sustainable housing development. The standard internal layouts provided in the manual have been consistently met while considering site-specific influences.

Design Consideration

The design of Grange Close was specifically tailored to incorporate additive construction. Utilising 3D Construction Printing (3DCP), which constructs structures layer by layer from digital models, allowed for an innovative approach that maximised efficiency. The 3DCP method operates by depositing materials in accordance with precise computer-generated instructions, resulting in time savings, reduced material waste, and cost reductions.

This design approach aligned with the principles outlined in the *Housing for All - Modern Methods of Construction Introductory Guide*, specifically under Category 4 - Additive Manufacturing. By integrating 3DCP, the project embraced the digitisation of construction processes, presenting forward-thinking solutions to meet housing needs effectively and sustainably.

For the Grange Close Project, the 3DCP printing process was conducted in seven sequential phases. Following the completion of these phases, the finishing works of the building were undertaken by B&C Building Contractors.