🏡 Building the Future: How 3D Printing & Factory Homes Could Solve the Housing Crisis
By Galaxy Groves Staff | March 31, 2025
As rental prices continue to skyrocket and affordable housing becomes increasingly scarce, a new wave of innovation is reshaping the way we think about home construction. From robotic arms printing concrete walls to homes built on factory floors in just a week, the future of housing is here — and it might just save us.
Welcome to a world where speed, sustainability, and smart design collide.
🏠Factory-Built Homes: Quick, Clean, and Cost-Effective
In the heart of the Colorado Rockies, a company called Fading West is doing something incredible: building fully-equipped modular homes in as little as five to seven days — even in the dead of winter.
Inside their massive indoor facility, homes move along an assembly line just like cars. At each station, workers add flooring, roofing, plumbing, electrical, and even kitchen countertops. The result? A house that’s 90% complete before it ever hits the road.
Once delivered, the homes are ready for move-in within six weeks.
“The faster you build — even at a high quality — means the lower the price,” said Eric Schaefer, of Fading West.
These homes are already making a difference. In Eagle, Colorado, near the Vail ski resort, teachers and essential workers are moving into affordable modular homes thanks to a partnership between Fading West and Habitat for Humanity.
It’s fast, efficient, and a powerful tool in the fight against housing scarcity.
🤖 3D-Printed Homes: Sci-Fi Meets Reality
Over at VeroTouch, the future is being poured one layer at a time. Picture this: a robotic arm gliding back and forth, squeezing out thick ribbons of concrete to form the walls of a home.
This isn't science fiction — it's 3D printing, and it has the potential to cut labor costs, speed up construction, and reduce waste.
While still in its early stages, this tech could one day allow for curved, artistic architecture and streamlined building like never before.
“It’s a long game,” said VeroTouch CEO Grant Hamel. “But every step chips away at housing costs.”
Challenges remain, like the high cost of machines and limited building code recognition. But the seeds of innovation are growing — and fast.
🌿 Hempcrete: The Green Material with a Bright Future
Let’s talk hemp. Yes, that hemp — but without the THC.
When mixed with lime, this plant becomes “hempcrete,” a natural, fire-resistant, mold-proof material that works as insulation, inner wall, and outer wall all at once.
Not only does it replace multiple traditional materials, but it’s also renewable: one acre can yield enough hemp for building in just a few months. Compare that to trees, which take decades.
“Hempcrete has a bright future,” says Penn State researcher Ali Memari, who’s working on ways to build without even needing wood studs.
With the International Code Council officially recognizing hempcrete for insulation, its future is only looking greener.
🧩 Piece by Piece: A Smarter Way to Build
From the factory floor to 3D printers to sustainable materials like hemp, the housing industry is reimagining how homes are made.
There’s no single fix to the housing crisis, but together, these innovations are forming a toolkit for a more affordable, accessible, and environmentally responsible future.
At Galaxy Groves, we’re always tuned into the next big thing — and this wave of housing innovation is one we’re watching closely.
đź’ˇ Follow Galaxy Groves for More Future-Forward Stories
Whether it's sustainable living, cutting-edge tech, or revolutionary design, we’re here to bring you stories that inspire.
👉 Stay curious. Stay connected. And stay building the future — with us
Comments