Plurial Novilia delivers ViliaSprint², the first 3D-printed concrete residential building in France

With a total of 800 m² of living space spread over three levels (ground floor + 2), it also stands out as the largest building of its kind in Europe. In a context marked by a decline in new construction activity and a persistent labor shortage in certain physically demanding trades such as structural work, the project was delivered in just 12 months (all trades, excluding infrastructure). It paves the way for the industrialization of an innovative process that should ultimately allow for the construction of more housing at a controlled cost, more quickly, and more sustainably, while simultaneously improving working conditions and safety on construction sites.

A pioneering project for the construction of collective housing in France

Although Plurial Novilia is not a first-timer (in 2022 it delivered five houses whose walls had been printed in a factory), the Reims-based social landlord is now pushing the boundaries of additive manufacturing applied to the construction sector.

Performed directly on-site, the 3D printing relied on the use of a PERI 3D Construction COBOD BOD2 robotic gantry, enabling the successive extrusion of concrete layers to create the load-bearing walls of the facades and interiors. The printable concrete – developed by Holcim using its ink TectorPrint – has been reinforced with synthetic macro-fibers for ultimate structural performance. It belongs to the low-carbon ECOPact range, offering a reduction in CO₂ emissions of at least 30% compared to traditional concrete.

Thanks to the reliability of the technology and the on-site production of the concrete, the printing phase, which began in March 2025, was completed in just 34 days, significantly faster than the initial estimate of 50 days. This reduction is also due to an optimized sequence for installing the prefabricated slabs, which halved the number of repositionings required for the robotic gantry that supports the mobile 3D printing head above half the building's footprint.

According to Jérôme Florentin, Director of Project Management and Development at Plurial Novilia (Action Logement group): « This feat confirms the full potential of this innovative construction technique, which makes it possible to reduce delays and improve working conditions on the construction site, both for the companies in charge of printing, Holcim and Peri 3D, and for the General Contractor Demathieu Bard Construction in charge of carrying out all the traditional works. »

A demonstration project for the industrialization of 3D printing in construction

Beyond the technical performance, the project also aimed, and above all, to test the conditions for deploying 3D printing on the scale of an apartment building. To this end, Plurial Novilia chose to construct, on the same plot, a nearly identical building using traditional methods. In addition to increasing the rental housing supply in the town of Bezannes, this second building allows for a comparison of the performance of the new 3D construction process, both during the construction phase and the operational phase.

In addition to halving the time required for the structural phase of 3D printing compared to traditional construction, the assessment highlights particularly encouraging performance in terms of productivity and working conditions. The system optimized human resources: three operators were sufficient to handle the printing process, compared to six for traditional construction.

By printing the load-bearing walls directly on site, the project does not contribute to the relocation of production to factories and is fully in line with the transformation of construction trades, which is reflected in particular by an evolution towards more technical and digital skills and qualifications.

Operators work in an ergonomic position and control the process via a tablet, without handling heavy loads. This organization helps improve safety by limiting the risk of accidents and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs): a crucial aspect for enhancing the attractiveness of in-demand professions (nearly 30% of companies report difficulties related to labor shortages, according to INSEE). Furthermore, the equipment is simplified, with the use of a robot and scaffolding to secure the printing process instead of the formwork and walkways usually required.

From an environmental standpoint, the technology has halved projected waste, reducing it from 10% to 5%. Transportation is also reduced thanks to the elimination of daily concrete truck deliveries, as the material is delivered and processed directly on-site. The construction site is also quieter, a crucial factor for both construction workers and local residents in a densely populated urban area.

Finally, 3D printing offers unprecedented architectural freedom, allowing for the creation of complex geometries (curves of all kinds) without additional cost. Thanks to compact designs and rounded shapes, made possible by digital tools, a 10% reduction in concrete usage compared to traditional construction methods has been observed.

According to Dr. Fabian Meyer-Brötz, Managing Director at PERI 3D Construction: « At PERI 3D Construction, we are proud to have supported this project as a technology partner in the printing process. The result clearly illustrates what is already possible today in the field of 3D printing for construction: a new dimension for printed residential buildings with fully load-bearing structures – with significantly faster delivery and less labor compared to traditional construction methods. This is an important milestone for us and a source of motivation to continue developing this approach and establishing 3D printing as a viable and cost-effective option in residential construction. We are convinced that it also has great potential in France and look forward to continuing this collaboration. »

A response to the challenges of new construction and sustainability

Designed by HOBO Architecture, the architectural concept also relies on the use of bio-based and geo-sourced materials such as perlite – supplied by Knauf – for insulation and wood for the balcony structures. The project incorporates 500 m² of photovoltaic panels and a shared hybrid gas heat pump – supplied by Atlantic Systèmes – to provide heating and domestic hot water. The building's orientation was determined based on solar studies conducted by Professor Timo Leukefeld, a German expert in building energy self-sufficiency, to optimize natural solar gain. This approach allows the project to aim for approximately 60% energy self-sufficiency, with a carbon footprint compliant with the 2025 target of the RE2020 regulation.

With an overall construction time reduced by three months, the project contributes to a credible response to the housing shortage in France. From an economic standpoint, ViliaSprint² represents an additional construction cost of approximately 30% (not passed on to rents) – primarily related to research and development work and the work required to obtain ATEx certification from the CSTB – for a total investment of €4,5 million. ViliaSprint² is now established as a true benchmark, paving the way for the industrialization of an innovative construction process, the cost of which will decrease as it is deployed.

According to Johnny Huat, Managing Director of Plurial Novilia (Action Logement group): « ViliaSprint² marks a major step in the exploration of new construction methods. The project has made it possible to concretely evaluate the contributions of 3D printing to produce housing more quickly and sustainably. »

Building on this experience and having already identified numerous areas for improvement (printing speed, quantity of printed concrete, etc.), Plurial Novilia and its main partners intend to continue their momentum with the construction of a program of approximately 40 housing units, combining single-family and multi-family dwellings. The project includes the deployment of 3D printers directly on the construction site. Their use should accelerate the production rate and thus further reduce printing times on site (likely by a factor of four). The goal is to lower current construction costs to compete with traditional building methods.