buildings

Review
3D Printing Technologies in Architectural Design and
Construction: A Systematic Literature Review
Maša Žujović , Radojko Obradović, Ivana Rakonjac and Jelena Milošević *

Faculty of Architecture, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

* Correspondence: [email protected]

Abstract: The proliferation of digital technologies considerably changed the field of architecture.
Digital fabrication pushes architecture into an unexpected new domain of previously unachievable
complexity, detail, and materiality. Understanding these technologies’ impact can help direct future
research, innovate design and construction processes, and improve the education of future profes-
sionals. However, comprehensive reviews offering a holistic perspective on the effects of 3D printing
technologies on architecture are limited. Therefore, this study aims to provide a systematic review
of state-of-the-art research on 3D printing technologies in architectural design and construction.
The review was performed using three major databases, and selected peer-reviewed journal articles
published in the last ten-year period were included in quantitative and qualitative analyses. Using
bibliometric analysis, the research progress is summarized through the identified trend of the annual
number of articles, prominent authors and co-authorship network, and key topics in the literature
organized in three clusters. Further, content analysis of selected articles enabled coding cluster
themes. Moreover, the analysis differentiated two categories of 3D printing technologies based on the
scale of the system, elaborating their peculiarities in terms of materials, methods, and applications.
Finally, challenges and promising directions for future work and research challenges are discussed.
Citation: Žujović, M.; Obradović, R.;
Rakonjac, I.; Milošević, J. 3D Printing Keywords: architecture; design; digital fabrication; construction industry; additive construction;
Technologies in Architectural Design additive manufacturing; rapid prototyping; 3D printing; models; prototypes
and Construction: A Systematic
Literature Review. Buildings 2022, 12,
1319. https://doi.org/10.3390/
buildings12091319 1. Introduction
Academic Editor: Derek The construction industry had to introduce innovative procedures and technolo-
Clements-Croome gies, such as digital fabrication, to respond to architectural design requests for flexibility,
complexity, high performance, detail, personalization of material, and technology [1–5].
Received: 31 July 2022
Automation in architecture [6–8] is offered as an alternative to inefficient and wasteful
Accepted: 23 August 2022
production models. This model of digital architecture is expected to make a difference and
Published: 28 August 2022
positive change in the built environment. Consequently, architectural discipline is expected
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral to work towards fully automated production forms and processes that promote equality,
with regard to jurisdictional claims in sustainability, democracy, diversity, and inclusiveness.
published maps and institutional affil- Understanding the effects of advanced technologies on architectural discipline can
iations. guide future research, innovate design and construction methods, and enhance educa-
tion. Accordingly, the purpose of this work is to discuss state-of-the-art digital fabrication
technologies in architecture, focusing on 3D printing (3DP). Out of all digital fabrication
technologies, 3DP is chosen because of its operational potential in the architecture en-
Copyright: © 2022 by the authors.
gineering and construction (AEC) industry. Applying this technology could enable the
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
This article is an open access article
fabrication of complex structures more sustainably with less material and without the need
distributed under the terms and
for traditional formwork. Another advantage is that 3DP can be used in all stages of the
conditions of the Creative Commons
design process, from form-finding prototypes to the fabrication of full-scale structures.
Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// Additive manufacturing (AM) is the procedure of successive printing layers of ma-
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ terials formed on top of one another [9]. The terms “additive manufacturing” and “3D
4.0/). printing” are often used synonymously to denote the construction of an object through the

Buildings 2022, 12, 1319. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12091319 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/buildings

Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 2 of 24

successive building of material. 3DP technology has been developing since the mid-1980s
when Charles Hull developed the first commercial 3D printer [10]. Pegna developed the
first large-scale concrete printer in the late 1990s, which enabled the use of 3DP in the
construction industry [11]. Although this technology started developing over 25 years ago,
its rapid development started much later.
The study by Chung et al. [12] showed that the number of papers on using 3DP
technology in the construction industry has increased in the last ten years. Previous
indicates a growing interest in applying and developing this technology in the construction
sector and, consequently, in architecture. With the growing number of papers, many
authors have reviewed this technology and its impact and use in construction [13–24].
These studies, even though extensive, tend to focus on specific aspects of technology and its
application. However, while there are studies covering different aspects of 3DP technology,
current research lacks the systematization needed to provide a general insight into all the
applications of this technology in architecture.
For example, studies [12,25,26] focus on 3DP technology from a more technical stand-
point, discussing printing equipment specifications and limitations. Another common
research topic is the development of printing materials. Materials used for 3DP construc-
tion are often presented from a material science perspective, making those researches too
technically oriented for this paper, as seen in [27,28]. On the other hand, several authors
are focusing their research on specific aspects of the usage of the 3DP technology, such as
its impact on the labor market [29] or environmental impact [30]. There are also papers that
focus on the possible applications of 3DP in architecture, but they mainly review specific
research projects such as printed large-scale architectural elements [31].
This research aims to conduct a comprehensive systematic literature review (SLR) on
the impact of state-of-the-art 3DP technology on architectural design and construction.
Starting from the research question “What is the scope of application of 3DP technology
in architecture?”, three major databases were searched, and relevant publications were
selected and analyzed. The analysis generated findings on the trend of the annual num-
ber of articles, keyword co-occurrence, and clustering. The further analysis enabled the
identification of the main research themes as well as categorization based on the scale
of 3DP systems. Finally, this discussion could be relevant to other researchers because
it summarizes up-to-date accomplishments and trends of development to better identify
experiences and scientific results as well as to recognize possibilities for future research,
innovation, and opportunities for applications of this technology in the AEC industry.

2. Materials and Methods

An SRL method was used to conduct research—identify, select, critically evaluate
research literature, and create new perspectives. The method was applied because it
provides theoretical knowledge and insights into current tendencies related to the research
topic [32]. An SRL was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic
reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines [33,34]. Following these guidelines,
a systematic protocol was used to generate and evaluate the collection of articles that
included three phases: (1) data search, (2) data selection, and (3) data analysis.
The keyword method [35] was applied in the first step for searching databases and
collecting articles. The search results were then refined to exclude all papers irrelevant to
the study. Firstly, all keywords from disciplines other than architecture or construction
were eliminated. Next, papers were evaluated based on the titles and the abstracts to
select the most relevant articles. Finally, papers were scanned in full text to exclude any
irrelevant texts that may have remained. Additionally, the snowballing method [36] was
used to search for additional literature by going through reference lists of the selected
papers. The refinement process was repeated on that additional body of research until all
selected articles were deemed relevant for the review. The formed literature sample was
then subjected to quantitative and qualitative analyses.
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 3 of 24

2.1. Data Search

SLRs enabled covering all published literature (within selected databases) that mostly
responds to a particular research question using carefully chosen keyword strings. Further-
more, the method empowered researchers to narrow search results by using pre-established
exclusion criteria to obtain a relevant final sample of papers that can effectively address
their researched problem [35].
Table 1 summarizes the main parameters and corresponding values used in the
database search (according to the PRISMA checklist).

Table 1. Search criteria.

Parameters Values
Information source Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar
(a) Keyword method
[using keyword strings: “3D printing” AND “architecture”
Search Strategy OR “design” OR “construction” OR “rapid prototyping” OR
“education”]) and
(b) Snowballing method
(a) Document type: journal papers;
(b) Search language: title, abstract, key words, and full text
Eligibility criteria
only in English;
(c) Data range: 2013–present;
(d) Last update: 25 June 2022

Data collection was done by searching three main databases: Scopus, Web of Science,
and Google Scholar. Selected databases cover a wide range of scientific publications, in-
cluding some of the most relevant journals. The scope of the literature was restricted to
peer-reviewed journal papers, eliminating other types of publications such as books or
conference proceedings due to the immense volume of scientific works published each year.
Different databases were used to provide a variety of indexed journals for searching.
Search limitations, set in advance, were the same for all databases. In addition, the
observed publication period includes the last ten years, from 2013–present, excluding early-
access articles and articles still in the publishing phase. This time frame was established
because 3DP technology is relatively new in common use and is fast-developing, so this
timeframe was deemed most relevant for a state-of-the-art review. Lastly, this study
included only articles written in the English language.
The keyword strings used were intentionally vague to cover all possible application
areas. For example, the initial string for searching the Google Scholar database was [archi-
tecture OR CONSTRUCTION “3D print *”], resulting in over 15,600 initial results, which
were later narrowed down to 351 by eliminating keywords from science fields. The final
Google Scholar keyword string was [architecture OR CONSTRUCTION “3D print *”-biology
-medicine -computer -molecular -biological -medical -bionic -cell -tissue -bio -rheological
-micro -energy -BIM -chemical -chemistry -fashion -electrical]. A similar methodology
was then applied for searching two other databases considering the specifics of each
search engine.
The snowballing method was used in addition to the keyword search to collect more
data and find papers that might have been missed. The term “snowballing” describes the
process of finding more publications by analyzing a paper’s reference list or its citations.
According to guidelines for snowballing in systematic literature studies [36], using refer-
ences and citations of the analyzed papers for finding new literature is called backward
and forward snowballing. In this study, backward snowballing was mainly used.
Figure 1 outlines the SRL procedure and recaps the number of publications at the end
of each process stage.
Buildings 2022, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 4 of 24

Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 Figure 1 outlines the SRL procedure and recaps the number of publications at the4 of
end24

of each process stage.

Figure 1.
Figure 1. PRISMA
PRISMA flow
flow diagram
diagram of
of literature
literature review.
review.

2.2. Data Selection

2.2. Data Selection
After conducting initial searches, the collected data were then further assessed. As
After conducting initial searches, the collected data were then further assessed. As
was mentioned in the previous section, basic searches were performed using the keyword
was mentioned in the previous section, basic searches were performed using the keyword
method. Both abstract and publication keywords were searched for “architecture” and “3D
method. Both abstract and publication keywords were searched for “architecture” and
printing”, as those two terms are the most relevant for this review. Additionally, the words
“3D printing”, as those two terms are the most relevant for this review. Additionally, the
“design”, “construction”, “rapid prototyping”, and “education” were included under the
words “design”, “construction”, “rapid prototyping”, and “education” were included un-
assumption that this search criterion was most likely to cover the main fields where it is
der the assumption that this search criterion was most likely to cover the main fields
expected to find articles relevant to architecture.
where it is the
After expected
initial to find articles
search, relevanttrend
one repeating to architecture.
was observed in all three databases. The
After the initial search, one repeating
term architecture is too broad and can be found in trend was observed
different in all three
industries such databases. The
as computer
term architecture
science and biomedicalis toosciences,
broad and can be
where 3DPfound in different
technology is alsoindustries
extensivelysuch as computer
researched and
science and biomedical sciences, where 3DP technology is also extensively
used in practice. This problem was resolved by filtering out all keywords and research researched and
used in practice. This problem was resolved by filtering out all keywords
topics associated with computer sciences, electronics, the biomedical field, and chemistry. and research
topicsrepeating
After associatedthiswith computer
process in allsciences, electronics,
three searches, the that
articles biomedical
were leftfield, and
were, chemistry.
for the most
After repeating this process in all three
part, related to 3D printing in the AEC industry. searches, articles that were left were, for the most
part,After
related to 3D printing
filtering inadequatein the AECduplicates,
papers, industry. and those texts that the authors did not
have access to, this process generated 91 papers. These were then reviewed in full text to
eliminate papers irrelevant for further analysis. While reviewing those papers, snowballing
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 5 of 24

added another 23 articles to be assessed in full text, out of which 11 were used in the final
literature sample.
Since AEC is a wider field than just architecture, there were still some papers that
focused on material science or technical engineering details of 3DP technology. This body
of research was then narrowed to the articles relevant to the field of architecture by going
through full texts. After going through full texts, some articles were eliminated because
they were in the field of mechanical engineering, civil engineering, or material science with
no overlap with the use of 3DP technology in architecture but rather focusing on chemical
or structural properties of the material and formwork. This final refinement resulted in
65 articles for which analysis is discussed in the next section.
A team of different researchers was assembled to guarantee the validity of the article
selection procedure and avoid bias. Two researchers had the task to conduct activities
of the three phases—identification of data from databases and through the snowballing
method, screening papers, and assessing papers for eligibility. The other two researchers
were responsible for overseeing and reviewing the process to ensure forming a relevant
literature sample and the quality of the research.

2.3. Data Analysis

Selected papers were analyzed using quantitative bibliometric analysis, a type of
statistical and applied mathematical analysis of the bibliographic units [37], frequently
used in recent years for analysis, evaluation, and prediction of the status of different
research fields [38]. A key bibliometrics technique, network analysis, was used in this study.
Network analysis facilitates the visualization of the intricate connection between articles
and citations in different journals. As a result, the information gathering process can be
made more straightforward, and the knowledge structure can be made more evident by
describing nodes and the connected network framework to clarify the relationship between
articles [38].
For the implementation of network analysis in this research, text-mining software
VOSviewer (Visualization of Similarities viewer) was used. This software visually analyzes
similar research and uses the co-occurrence matrix for the layout to create a knowledge
map—a network made of nodes and links that connect them [39]. Using VOSviewer, key-
word co-occurrence rate analysis was conducted. Consequently, a sample of the literature
generated in the bibliometric search was imported into VOSviewer for the analysis, which
produced visual networks of keywords showing their influence and level of impact in
the field.
In the following step of the research, qualitative content analysis was conducted based
on the results of the bibliometric analysis—the network of keywords with the clusters based
on their co-occurrence rate. Previous study was done to further evaluate the state-of-the-art
of 3DP technology applications in architecture. The purpose of the qualitative study was to
analyze and systematize the available research in more detail since the obtained results still
lack classification.
Qualitative analysis was conducted on the sample of selected articles, with the aim
to give a theme to each cluster. The procedure used had the following steps: (1) select a
cluster; (2) search each word from that cluster in the full text of all articles included in
the sample; (3) read the context of a word where it appears in the corresponding articles;
(4) select common articles having most of the words from that the particular cluster; (5)
carefully read the selected articles to find the central idea or theme; and (6) assign a theme
to that cluster. The same procedure was repeated for all the clusters in the network.

3. Results
This section presents the results of bibliometric analysis and qualitative analysis
organized in subsequent subheadings.
Buildings 2022, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 6 of 24
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 6 of 24

3.1. Bibliometric Analysis

3.1. Bibliometric Analysis
3.1.1. Articles Publishing Trends
3.1.1. Articles Publishing Trends
The number of papers published in a field shows the direction of development and
The number of papers published in a field shows the direction of development and
scope of knowledge. Within the scope of retrieval, Figure 2 illustrates the trend of an an-
scope of knowledge. Within the scope of retrieval, Figure 2 illustrates the trend of an annual
nual number of articles on 3DP in architecture published over the past 10 years, from 2013
number of articles on 3DP in architecture published over the past 10 years, from 2013 to the
to the present. Out of 65 selected papers, 52 (80%) were published in the last 5 years. More-
present. Out of 65 selected papers, 52 (80%) were published in the last 5 years. Moreover,
over, 35 of the 65 papers, making 53.8% of the total number of papers, were published in
35 of the 65 papers, making 53.8% of the total number of papers, were published in the
the last 3 years. Previous study shows a trend of rapid growth in the number of publica-
last 3 years. Previous study shows a trend of rapid growth in the number of publications
tions in recent years, as was noted in the research by [40]. A similar trend of growth in the
in recent years, as was noted in the research by [40]. A similar trend of growth in the
number of publications over the last decade regarding the impact of 3DP technology in
number of publications over the last decade regarding the impact of 3DP technology in
the
the construction
constructionindustry
industrywas
wasalso
alsoshown
shown inin
thethe
study
study[16]. However,
[16]. However, no articles thatthat
no articles re-
view the published papers on the impact of 3DP on the field of architecture
review the published papers on the impact of 3DP on the field of architecture were found. were found.
Additionally,
Additionally, aa similar
similar trend
trend in
in the
the number
number of of published
published papers
papers can
can also
also be
be observed
observed in
in
the publication year data collected from the Scopus database after the initial (non-filtered)
the publication year data collected from the Scopus database after the initial (non-filtered)
search
search that
that produced
produced 143
143 articles,
articles, which
which are
are given
given inin Appendix
Appendix A A (Figure
(Figure A1).
A1).

18 17
16 15
14 13
12

10

8
6
6 5 5
4
2
2 1 1
0
0
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Figure2.
Figure Publicationrate
2. Publication rateof
offiltered
filtered articles
articles on
on 3DP
3DP in
in architecture.
architecture.

As it can be observed, the number of available papers increased significantly between

As it can be observed, the number of available papers increased significantly between
2017 and 2018. Until then, the more often research focus was on 3DP application in design
2017 and 2018. Until then, the more often research focus was on 3DP application in design
and education, as 3DP was still an emerging trend in the construction industry. However,
and education, as 3DP was still an emerging trend in the construction industry. However,
in 2017, several review articles were published focusing on large-scale applications in
in 2017, several review articles were published focusing on large-scale applications in the
the construction industry [20,25], which points to the significant shift in the research
construction industry [20,25], which points to the significant shift in the research trends.
trends. Furthermore, around this time, several new 3DP methods such as particle-bed
Furthermore, around this time, several new 3DP methods such as particle-bed 3DP [41]
3DP [41] or 3D printing of ultra-high-performance concrete [42] were presented, opening
or 3D printing of ultra-high-performance concrete [42] were presented, opening new pos-
new possibilities for future research.
sibilities for future research.
3.1.2. Source Journals
3.1.2. Source Journals
The journal where a retrieved article was published is referred to as the source journal.
The journal
A literature where
sample a retrieved
of 65 articles wasarticle was published
published is referred
in 37 different to asThe
journals. the articles
source jour-
were
nal. A literature sample of 65 articles was published in 37 different
mainly published in journals related to buildings and constructions, civil andjournals. The articles
structural
were mainly published
engineering, in journals
architecture, computer related to buildings
graphics and constructions,
and computer-aided design,civil and struc-
modeling and
tural engineering,
simulation, architecture,
and material computer
sciences. The topgraphics
20 sourceand computer-aided
journals from whichdesign,
works modeling
on 3DP in
and simulation,
architecture wereand material
collected aresciences.
listed in The
Tabletop 20 sourcetojournals
2 according Journalfrom which
Citation works
Reports on
(JCR)
3DP in architecture
Impact Factor (IF). were collected are listed in Table 2 according to Journal Citation Re-
ports (JCR) Impact Factor (IF).
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 7 of 24

Table 2. Source journals for articles on 3DP in architecture in the analyzed literature sample.

Journals No. of Papers SJR (2021) IF (2021)

Science Robotics 1 Q1 27.541
Cement and Concrete Research 8 Q1 11.958
Virtual and Physical Prototyping 3 Q1 10.962
Automation in Construction 16 Q1 10.517
Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing 1 Q1 9.463
Construction and Building Materials 1 Q1 7.693
Engineering Structures 1 Q1 5.582
3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing 2 Q1 5.355
Journal of Sustainable Cement-Based Materials 1 Q1 5.328
Journal of Constructional Steel Research Q1 4.349
Rapid Prototyping Journal 1 Q1 4.043
Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering 1 Q1 4.042
Sustainability 1 Q2 3.889
Materials 1 Q2 3.748
Biomimetics 1 Q2 3.743
International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology 1 Q1 3.563
Buildings 2 Q1 3.324
Computer Applications in Engineering Education 1 Q1 2.109
Transportation Research Record 1 Q2 2.019
Infrastructures 2 Q2 /

Two publications have significantly more 3DP-related articles than the others: Au-
tomation in Construction (16 papers) and Cement and Concrete Research (8 papers). These
two publications together account for 36.9% of the total papers. Since 3DP is a technology
based on AM processes, which are closely related to digitalization and automation, articles
from the journal Automation in Construction account for the largest portion of the published
literature. The analysis also indicates that the material used in 3DP is commonly concrete
since the second most represented journal is Cement and Concrete Research. According to the
journal occurrence, the study on 3DP mostly focuses on expanding knowledge of materials
and processes. Four journals had an occurrence rate of two or more articles—Virtual and
Physical Prototyping, 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, Buildings, and Infrastructures.
Automation in Construction is highly active in the construction 3DP, covering all aspects
of the use of information technologies in the design, engineering, construction, maintenance,
and management of constructed facilities. Cement and Concrete Research, on the other hand,
primarily introduces research accomplishments in material science with a focus on cement
materials. Nevertheless, both journals significantly impact the building and construction
field, having a Q1 score based on the SCImago Journal Ranking (SJR) system and high
impact factors (IF). Virtual and Physical Prototyping has a Q1 score in computer graphics
and computer-aided design, industrial and engineering manufacturing, and modeling and
simulation, and Buildings has a Q1 score for architecture based on SJR.
The study by Ning et al. [16] produced similar results in terms of publication distribu-
tion, with Automation in Construction and Cement and Concrete Research being the second
and third most occurring publications in their Web of Science search for the period between
2013 and 2020. Their study focused on the review of the 3DP in the construction industry,
which is a narrower field than architecture. For that reason, the most prevalent journal in
their search was Construction and Building Materials. However, only one paper from this
journal is included in the literature sample since the journal has a more technical focus on
3DP technology and materials, which is less relevant for the scope of this study.

3.1.3. Keywords Analysis and Clustering

Keyword co-occurrence analysis can identify keyword aggregation, clarify the devel-
opment direction, and summarize emerging research in an academic field. Two counting
methods were available for keyword analysis: binary and full counting. The binary method
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 8 of 24

does not account for repetition within an article; it only counts the presence or absence of a
term. On the other hand, full counting entails recording each word’s occurrence. Because it
offers a more thorough understanding of the actual representation of research issues, the
full counting method was chosen for this study.
Keywords were selected by scanning repeating words in titles and abstracts of all
papers. Word repeating is limited to five times or more to observe emerging research
interests. In total, 103 words fit this criterium. For each word, a relevance score was
calculated, and then, based on that score, 60% of the words with the highest relevance were
used for further analysis to highlight the most influential terms; 62 words were evaluated
using this criterion. Table 3 shows selected 25 keywords with strong connection strength.

Table 3. The occurrence and relevance of keywords in the analyzed literature sample.

Keyword Occurrences Relevance Score

structure 44 0.6264
industry 39 1.3401
concrete 36 0.9324
student 36 1.3935
model 29 0.6883
construction industry 28 0.9395
3D printing technology 24 0.922
formwork 24 1.2044
education 22 1.2286
environment 21 0.4794
approach 20 0.2337
geometry 18 0.6266
architecture 16 0.4672
fabrication 14 0.8044
production 13 0.8934
framework 12 1.2117
automation 11 0.8441
bridge 11 1.207
case study 11 0.5958
concrete structure 11 1.4197
art 10 0.8032
housing industry 10 2.3917
creativity 9 1.5211
digital fabrication 9 0.7792
3D concrete printing 8 1.2498

In Figure 3, the same sample of words is visualized as a network. Accordingly,

keyword mapping shows three distinct clusters (green, red, and blue), each representing
one area where 3DP technology is used. Due to the number of terms and connections,
the red cluster is the biggest and most complex. The backbone of this cluster are the
terms “structure”, “concrete”, “fabrication”, and “architecture”, indicating that a significant
number of analyzed papers focus application of the 3DP technology in design projects.
However, when analyzing the nodes with the highest combined occurrence rate and link
strength, the most prevalent terms are “structure”, “student”, “construction industry”,
“industry”, and “concrete.” Those depict the main areas of interest and research.
Buildings 2022, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 of 24
Buildings 2022, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 of 24

when analyzing the nodes with the highest combined occurrence rate and link strength,
when analyzing the nodes with the highest combined occurrence rate and link strength,
the most prevalent terms are “structure”, “student”, “construction industry”, “industry”,
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319
the most prevalent terms are “structure”, “student”, “construction industry”, “industry”,
9 of 24
and “concrete.” Those depict the main areas of interest and research.
and “concrete.” Those depict the main areas of interest and research.

Figure 3. Network visualization of occurrence of keywords and clusters in the analyzed literature
sample.
Figure
Figure 3. Network
3. Network visualization
visualization of occurrence
of occurrence of keywords
of keywords andinclusters
and clusters in theliterature
the analyzed analyzed literature
sample.
sample.
As
As this
this paper
paper aims
aims toto obtain
obtain aa comprehensive
comprehensiveoverview
overviewofofthe theconnection
connectionbetween
between
3DP
3DP technology
As thisand
technology andthe
paper field
aims
the of of
to
field architecture,
obtain the the
terms
a comprehensive
architecture, “3D
terms printing
overview
“3D technology”
of
printing and “ar-
thetechnology”
connection between
and
chitecture”
“architecture”were
3DP technologyinvestigated
were and
investigatedmore
the field ofclosely concerning
architecture,
more closely their“3D
the terms
concerning connections
printing
their to various
technology”
connections clus-
and “ar-
to various
ters in the
clusters in network
chitecture” of investigated
were
the networkkeywords. The
of keywords. results
more of this
Theclosely
results ofanalysis
concerning are presented
their
this analysis in Figure
connections
are presented to 4.
in various
Figure 4.clus-
ters in the network of keywords. The results of this analysis are presented in Figure 4.

(a) (b)
(a) 4.
Figure
Figure
Connections with different terms and clusters in the network(b)
4. Connections with different terms and clusters in the network
of analyzed literature sample
of analyzed literature sample
for terms: (a) “3D printing technology” and (b) “architecture”.
Figure(a)
for terms: 4. “3D
Connections
printing with differentand
technology” terms
(b) and clusters in the network of analyzed literature sample
“architecture”.
for terms: (a) “3D printing technology” and (b) “architecture”.
Both terms had a strong connection with all clusters. “Architecture” is less dominant
since not all articles whose research problems are in the domain of architecture use this
term specifically in abstracts or titles. Adversely, they opt for other terms in the architecture
field that are more specific to their research, such as “construction”. However, it can be
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 10 of 24

seen that “architecture” has links with most terms that have high relevance in terms of
occurrence and link strength.

3.2. Content Analysis

3.2.1. Cluster Themes
All selected articles underwent qualitative analysis, and each emerging cluster from
the keyword co-occurrence analysis (Figure 3) was then grouped under a particular theme
following the procedure described in Section 2.3., i.e., Data Analysis, of this paper. The
clusters and their associated themes and selected keywords are summarized in Table 4.

Table 4. Clusters and themes in the analyzed literature sample.

Representative
No. Cluster Theme No. of Keywords Tag
Keywords
student
Application of 3DP model
1 Green 17 Education
technology in education education
creativity
structure
concrete
Application of 3DP
2 Red 30 fabrication Design
technology in design
architecture
production
3DP technology
Application of 3DP
construction industry
3 Blue technology in 15 Construction
automation
construction industry
new development

Theme 1: 3DP Technology in Education

The theme of the first green cluster is the implementation of 3DP in education. The
papers relating to this topic focus mostly on the effects of the application of 3DP technology
in the architectural design curriculum. The studies have shown that the integration of 3DP
technology in the design process can incentivize creative thinking, leading to more complex
design solutions compared to traditional teaching methods [43–45]. Many students used
3DP technology for prototyping, which led to increasingly complex designs. In comparison
to conventional approaches, 3DP allowed them to create physical models that were far more
conceptually and geometrically complex [46,47]. Another benefit of this approach is that
the use of AM positively affected students’ spatial cognition, as they were able to view their
designs in the physical environment and focus on the overall design concept [48,49]. In most
cases, this technology is implemented in the form of standard desktop 3D printers suitable
for printing small models that can be used during the design process for prototyping
presentation models [50]. On the other hand, Anton et al. [31] demonstrate the use of
large-scale 3DP technology for printing concrete columns as a part of the Master’s design
studio course at ETH Zurich.

Theme 2: 3DP Technology in Design

The second cluster is the biggest in terms of the number of keywords and papers.
Furthermore, this cluster covers a wide range of topics related to different aspects of the
design and fabrication process. Based on the occurrence rate and link strength, the most
dominant words in this cluster are “structure”, “concrete”, “fabrication”, “architecture”,
and “production”, indicating several topics. However, there is a significant overlap be-
tween papers covering topics represented in this and the other two clusters. For example,
the impact of AM technologies on the design process can be observed in educational set-
tings [44,45] and the construction industry [19,23,26,51–53]. Another central theme is the
design and fabrication of large-scale concrete structures. Since 3DP concrete is an emerging
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 11 of 24

trend, researchers are still exploring this technology by testing its geometric and structural
potentials [54,55]. Correspondingly, authors are testing different design and fabrication ap-
proaches for 3DP concrete, mainly direct printing of structural material [31,56] as opposed
to the 3DP formworks [52,55]. Both approaches have unique advantages and disadvantages
in terms of geometric complexity and structural characteristics of printed forms. In general,
the main subject of this cluster is the potential of integrating AM technologies into the
design process.

Theme 3: 3DP Technology in Construction Industry

Most authors in this cluster focus their research on 3DP technology development and
applications in the construction industry. The previous is also evident from the keyword
analysis results that identified many words connected to the construction industry and
automation. Two main research areas covered in articles related to this cluster are the
application of 3DP for construction-scale AM projects and large-scale prototypes. The
construction scale projects can be either full-scale buildings or prefabricated building ele-
ments. 3DP is currently used in many construction projects, from housing units [14,23] to
bridges [54,57,58], and applied for both in situ and prefabricated elements. While complete
3DP construction projects often rely on in situ fabrication methods, research favors the pre-
fabrication of 3DP architectural elements, as it allows the fabrication of custom designs [55].
Large-scale prototypes are usually test models of building elements that explore new fabri-
cation methods or materials and are still not ready for full-scale application [31,59]. Another
common research topic is 3DP technology or fabrication methods used in the construction
industry, with several authors presenting new methods [41,42,51,52,60] or reviewing and
systematizing existing ones [23,25,61].

3.2.2. Categories Based on Scale

Although all reviewed papers on the application of 3DP technology in architecture
can be classified into at least one of the clusters, their focus can also be put into one of
two categories based on the criteria of scale: large-scale systems or small-scale systems.
Leach [62] explored the implications of scaling in 3DP and its impact on using such tech-
nology in architecture. The matter of scale is important because when scaling up, which is
required for the application of 3DP in the construction industry, material properties become
increasingly more important. Consequently, as scale progresses, materials and technology
become more of a limitation than a form of complexity. On the other hand, models used
for design research or representation do not need to have the structural properties of a
full-scale structure. For this reason, different technologies and materials are used to adapt
to the needed scale. The features of the different scale 3DP systems (materials, methods,
and applications) are summarized in Table 5.

Category 1: Small-Scale Systems

Small-scale 3DP or rapid prototyping (RP) refers to the technology that is commonly
available and uses materials that lack the structural properties required for use in full-scale
buildings. This category of 3DP primarily includes more accessible technology, such as
desktop 3D printers and other in-home equipment. The technology is selected based on
the purpose and complexity of a model.
Systems that are currently in use are based on stereolithography (SLA), fused deposi-
tion modeling (FDM), and selective laser sintering (SLS) printing methods [21]. SLA is the
oldest of three processes, and it uses a UV laser beam to cure liquid resin into hardened
plastic. FDM is the most common of the three. In this method, melted material is extruded
in layers on the printer’s heated bed, creating an object. Lastly, SLS uses a strong laser
beam to cure powdered material. The advantage of SLA and SLS over the FDM is that
there is no need for a support structure as printing material serves as support. Aside from
three main categories, there are different technologies available today, such as direct metal
laser sintering (DMLS) and selective laser melting (SLM) [22].
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 12 of 24

Table 5. Materials, methods, and applications of 3DP systems categories based on scale.

No. Category Materials Methods Applications

(a) Plastic: (a) Stereolithography (SLA); (a) Research:
• Acrylonitrile (b) Fused deposition modelling (FDM); • Testing models,
butadiene styrene (ABS), (c) Selective Laser Sintering (SLS); • Small-scale prototypes;
• Nylon, (d) Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS);
(e) Selective Laser Melting (SLM). (b) Education;
1 Small-scale • Polymers; (c) Design:
(b) Metal; • Exploration models,
(c) Ceramic; • Presentation models,
(d) Wax; • Functional models;
(e) Liquid photosensitive resin.
(d) Fabrication of building elements.

(a) Concrete–cement-based materials; (a) Powder based—Binder jetting: (a) Research:

(b) Polymers; • D-shape; • Testing models,
(c) Metal; • Large-scale prototypes;
(d) Alternative materials: (b) Extrusion based—Material deposition
method (MDM): (b) Education;
• Foams, (c) Construction industry:
• Wax, • Contour crafting,
• Cob, • Concrete printing; • Full-scale buildings,
• Clay, (c) Hybrid methods: • Full-scale building elements.
2 Large-scale
• Ceramic.
• Selective Binder Activation (SBA),
• Selective Paste Intrusion (SPI),
• Foam spraying,
• Tangential Continuity
Method (TCM);
(d) Formwork printing methods:
• Robotic formwork FDM,
• Sand-printing.

Materials used in small-scale 3DP are plastic (nylon, polymers, Acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene (ABS) or poly lactic acid (PLA)), ceramic, metal, and wax. These materials are
mainly used for FDM and SLS. Aside from them, hardened liquid photosensitive resins are
employed for SLA to produce plastic material [21].
There are three types of 3DP application for small-scale architectural models: (1) design
exploration models [41,44–47,49,50,63–66], (2) design presentation models [43–45,48], and
(3) test models [66]. The use of RP can be a part of design research or prototyping of
small-scale models of large-scale 3DP constructions. Additionally, several studies have
shown the effects of integrating this technology in an educational setting in other design
areas such as fashion or product design [45,64]. Design exploration using 3DP models
can be found in architectural education within studio design courses at all levels of study.
Studies by Ruheili and Hajri [50] and Kim et al. [48], for instance, showed the benefits of
the RP’s introduction in landscape architecture design courses. On the other hand, a case
study by Howeidy and Arafat [43] compared students who made models in traditional
ways with those who had access to the RP technology to explore the relationship between
the student’s design complexity and model-making method.
Another application of RP is for making functional models or small-scale test models
for large-scale structures to examine their mechanical or structural properties. For example,
Yi et al. [66] described the process of using 3DP technology in prototyping kinetic shading
devices. Likewise, the form-finding and testing of vault structures through 3DP were
studied by Tomé et al. [65]. Small-scale 3DP technology can sometimes be used for fully
functional construction elements, such as optimized steel nodes by Arup [13].
The usual application of 3DP in architecture is also for making presentation models.
These kinds of models can be commonly found in education and used as a part of design
projects’ final presentation [44]. This technology can be available to students as part of the
in-class equipment, but universities often have separate shared spaces, such as FabLabs or
Maker Spaces [45].

Category 2: Large-Scale Systems

Large-scale 3DP refers to methods of printing elements on a construction scale. Key-
word analysis showed that many words with a high occurrence rate are connected to
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 13 of 24

the construction industry, forming cluster 3. This cluster mostly comprises the use of
large-scale 3DCP.
Human-like-scale printed elements that could be applied in the construction industry
require adequate structural properties. Therefore, most papers focus either on printing
technology or material characteristics. These topics are extensively covered by number of
authors [12,13,16,19,23–25,41,51,67–69] in recent years. According to Tay et al. [20], methods
used for large-scale printing can be grouped into two main categories: binder jetting and
material deposition method (MDM).
Binder jetting is a powder-based process where the liquid binder is deposited in thin
layers over a build tray filled with powder to create objects. A well-known binder jetting
method is D-shape printing [13,17,70]. This method, developed by architect Enrico Dini, is
the oldest large-scale powder-based 3DP method [41] and is similar to SLA. On the other
hand, MDM is similar to the FDM method. A nozzle extrudes heated materials in layers on
a predefined path. The material then solidifies, creating the object. Two best-known MDM
methods are contour crafting [18,43,70], developed by Behrokh Khoshnevis, and concrete
printing [13,18].
Some other hybrid methods cannot be classified into any of the categories, such as se-
lective binder activation (SBA), selective paste intrusion (SPI) discussed by Lowke et al. [41]
or foam spraying [51], and tangential continuity method (TCM) [70]. Over the years, these
methods have been adopted by many companies and research groups. Systematization of
these processes can be found in [24]. Additionally, some processes do not rely on printing
the actual concrete or building material but rather on printing the formwork. One of these
methods is robotic formwork FDM 3D printing, discussed by Burger et al. [52].
Several authors cover the materials used for large-scale 3DP in depth, and their
classifications are based on different properties of technological processes. Three common
material types applied in these processes are concrete materials, polymers, and metallic
materials [13,16,24]. Other materials are also used, including foams [51], wax [70], or
cob [53].
Large-scale 3DP is applied in the construction industry in two main areas. One field
of research addresses the printing of full-scale structures. Many research groups focus on
infrastructure projects, with bridges being the most common. The production process of one
of such bridges, the bicycle bridge in Gemert, the Netherlands, is discussed in [58] and [67].
Other research groups and companies focus on developing technology and methods for
building full-scale architecture projects such as multistory buildings and houses. An
overview of these projects can be found in [13,19,71]. The second field of research focuses
development and testing of full-scale building elements such as beams, columns, plates,
walls, and even pavilions that serve as large-scale prototypes. These research projects are
often developed in academic settings as a form of large-scale RP. Concrete choreography,
developed at ETH Zürich [31], is one of these efforts. Other examples from ETH Zürich are
branching columns and the future tree pavilion by Burger et al. [52]. Similar initiatives are
covered in [41,63,67].

3.2.3. Classification of Articles

Table 6 provides a comprehensive summary of all papers included in this review. It
maps each article according to the year of publication, main themes, and scale category of
the 3DP system.
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 14 of 24

Table 6. Literature review summary.

Theme Tag Scale Category Author(s)

Year Reference
Education Design Construction Small-Scale Large-Scale
2014 • • • Loy [45]
2015 • • Perkins and Skitmore [18]
2016 • • Wu et al. [21]
• • • Labonnote et al. [15]
• • Greenhalgh [47]
• • Gosselin et al. [42]
• • • Bos et al. [72]
2017 • • • Tay et al. [20]
• • Leach [62]
• • • Kempton [44]
• • • Keating et al. [73]
• • Howeidy and Arafat [43]
• • • Duballet et al. [25]
2018 • • X. Zhang et al. [60]
• • • Wu et al. [22]
• • • Wolfs et al. [69]
• • Wang et al. [49]
• • • van Woensel [61]
• • Tomé et al. [65]
• • • Salet et al. [58]
• • • Ma et al. [27]
• • • Lowke et al. [41]
• • Delgado Camacho et al. [24]
• • • De Schutter et al. [71]
• • • Buswell et al. [74]
• • • Buchli et al. [75]
• • Borg Costanzi et al. [76]
• • Asprone et al. [67]
2019 • • • J. Zhang et al. [23]
• • Buchanan and Gardner [77]
2020 • • Yi et al. [66]
• • • Vantyghem et al. [59]
• • • Siddika et al. [19]
• • Reiter et al. [78]
• • Melenbrink et al. [68]
• • Mehar et al. [79]
• • Martínez-Rocamora et al. [80]
• • Lim et al. [56]
• • Jagoda et al. [81]
• • Hossain et al. [29]
• • • Han et al. [82]
• • • Hack et al. [83]
• • • Gardner et al. [57]
• • • El-Sayegh et al. [84]
• • Carneau et al. [85]
• • • Burger et al. [52]
• • Boumaraf and İnceoğlu [46]
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 15 of 24

Table 6. Cont.

Theme Tag Scale Category Author(s)

Year Reference
Education Design Construction Small-Scale Large-Scale
2021 • • Schuldt et al. [40]
• • Ruheili and Hajri [50]
• • Pan et al. [17]
• • Ning et al. [16]
• • Kim et al. [48]
• • Javed et al. [86]
• • • Gomaa et al. [53]
• • • García-Alvarado et al. [14]
• • Chung et al. [12]
• • • Bedarf et al. [51]
• • • • Katzer and Skoratko [87]
• • • • Abdallah and Estévez [88]
• • • • Anton et al. [31]
2022 • • • Waldschmitt et al. [26]
• • • Jipa and Dillenburger [55]
• • Hu et al. [63]
• • de la Fuente et al. [54]
• • Ali et al. [13]

4. Discussion
This chapter discusses the contribution of this work—summary and mapping of the
state-of-the-art research on 3DP technology in architecture in terms of research limitations
and challenges within identified major research themes and further directions of work.

4.1. Research Challenges

4.1.1. Challenge 1: Innovating Education
The challenge for architectural education brought by advances in 3DP technologies
could be summarized in the following question: How can architectural curriculums be
adapted with the use of 3DP technology in order to update learning outcomes and respond
to the personnel requirements of professional practice while supporting the learning habits
of a new generation of students?
Architectural pedagogy must keep up with the times and prepare students for the
professional world and an unpredictable future. When architectural offices and engineering
consultancies reinvent themselves to adapt to new social and productive circumstances,
future professionals must possess adequate knowledge and skills to act professionally in
new working environments. However, beyond teaching students the necessary skills to
become competent workers is teaching them skills to design for the future using technology
to propose architectural solutions that sustainably address diverse issues.
To answer the challenge, a comprehensive review of the application of 3DP technology
in architectural education that summarizes different pedagogical approaches, methods,
and practical experiences is necessary. This study identifies that reports on the application
of 3DP technology in education usually describe the specific case and individual educa-
tional experience (e.g., application in landscape architecture [50]). Although technological
advancements could resolve many drawbacks in implementing the technology (especially
small-scale printers) and contribute to its wider accessibility [21,43,50], more research is
needed to develop new pedagogical approaches and strategies. Furthermore, there should
be more studies concerning new curriculums that will overcome reported limitations (e.g.,
see the study by Kim et al. [48]), their testing in real educational contexts, and evaluation of
the effects.
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 16 of 24

Practically oriented courses such as design studios, workshops, or other courses that
apply project-based learning methods are particularly suitable for curriculum innovation.
In this respect, it could be worthwhile to study the possibility of creative 3DP tools ap-
plication in the design process as opposed to just for design presentations. For example,
Greenhalgh [47] noticed that developing a curricular connection between design and pro-
duction may be needed to better prepare students for design-based careers. Furthermore,
he observed that the iterative character of the design process would be a critical strategy in
developing curricula utilizing 3DP since many students readily accepted the first model,
neglecting its evident design weaknesses [47].
Furthermore, improving students’ skills in using 3D software and printing technology
is important. We need to understand how to better acquire 3DP skills outside the traditional
educational programs and how to adapt learning from informal and formal education [46].
Additionally, the teaching approach must be customized to the students with different
proficiency, experience [64,89,90], academic levels, or learning styles [91]. Furthermore,
more effort should be put into creating educational support resources, such as books and
other materials [48].
As observed in the literature included in this review, the application of 3DP in ed-
ucation could contribute to developing hands-on learning experience, problem solving,
creative learning and thinking, spatial cognition [46], or increase learning motivation.
However, up-to-date research does not fully explore the possibilities of the technology
and its implications. Finally, it is crucial to encourage students to think of themselves as
lifelong learners who are prepared to continually acquire new skills, keeping in mind the
obsolescence of technology and the rapid change in socioeconomic circumstances.

4.1.2. Challenge 2: Innovating Design

The challenge for design brought by advances in 3DP technologies could be summa-
rized in the following question: How can design processes and methods be improved using
3DP technology to increase the efficiency and quality of the production without disturbing
its creative nature?
To answer this challenge, future work needs to focus on developing innovative design
processes, methods, and tools and test their application on the small and large scales. In
addition, using 3DP technology can support co-creation and teamwork, as they provide the
opportunity to create designs in mono- or multi-disciplinary teamwork. Furthermore, 3DP
technology could support better communication of ideas in the design process between
participants (designers or clients) who can collaborate on the design and fabrication process.
An outcome of such a collaborative approach is the generation of innovative and sustainable
design processes that include fabrication intelligence, application of property-specific
materials, and contribution to environmental effectiveness.

Design Process Challenges and Trends

Another interesting research topic is the study of the relation between design and
design tools in the creative process. In the analyzed literature, papers on small-scale 3DP
systems were mostly case studies. As a result, research on this topic is fragmented and
lacks a systematized review that demonstrates how using this technology affects the design
process. Furthermore, studies that assess the impact of 3DP tools on creativity are needed
as well as studies on the inclusion of the technology in the early stages of the design process
as a design driver. Additionally, more studies are required on design processes informed by
fabrication at an early stage. Furthermore, research by design projects represents another
sphere of exploration that could increase the (practical) knowledge and experience in
applying 3DP technologies.
Exploring design concepts and opportunities of 3DP buildings for diverse architectural
typologies, including unconventional applications—remote environments, military, and
space but also extended to different planets (e.g., suggested in [19,40]) could contribute
to the wider use of technology. Furthermore, the advantages of the technology could be
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 17 of 24

tested for solving global issues of providing economy housing for low-income people,
local reconstruction of buildings after natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, or
military operations [13].
On the other hand, collaborative research could be done in performance-based design
(PBD) to develop optimization design methods and tools. For instance, the idea of using
geometry to induce structure functionality and its relationship with the construction process
(e.g., suggested in [42]) needs additional research. An approach to design that asks for
further studies includes material-based building automation. In this regard, Yi et al. [66]
propose further development of design methods to fully automate operation, increase AM
building efficiency, and enhance the controllability of component performance in different
building applications.
The development of software tools for design is another work perspective. For ex-
ample, Buswell et al. [74] suggested developing a tool for component design through
optimization of geometry using co-simulation, coupling a model of the manufacturing
process (tool path generation) with a model of the material characteristics to generate a
performance model based on hardened properties and optimized design for reinforcement.
Moreover, this software could facilitate manufacturing standardization by applying specific
components to produce optimal configurations [74]. On the other hand, Gosselin et al. [42]
proposed the future development of a tool that enables multi-scale consideration. In ad-
dition, Lowke et al. [41] suggested the development of software for design and toolpath
formation. New tools should be implemented as plug-ins in design software to provide
design autonomy.

Legislative Challenges and Trends

Since AM is still relatively new to the construction industry and has only a small
number of completed projects, 3DP building methods are unconventional, and the applied
materials have not yet undergone significant testing. Several authors have noted the
lack of regulation related to 3DP constructions [13,16,19,40,51,67]. To overcome this issue,
we need more studies that produce results that contribute to developing generalized
standards/guidelines/codes for structural testing for each type of printing material and
printing technology to ensure structural integrity. Creating a full-scale series of design
criteria, construction guidelines, and standard practices for 3DP construction that reflect
industry knowledge could help stimulate further research and promote implementation
and expand technology in everyday use [16].
For example, Siddika et al. [19] urged the development of legislation relevant to 3DPC,
while Brdarf et al. [51] focused on F3DP. Furthermore, Asprone et al. [67] proposed re-
thinking conventional knowledge on reinforcement of concrete structures in terms of new
possibilities offered by digital fabrication technologies and large-scale testing end-product
mechanical characterization. On the other hand, more work could be done on establish-
ing intellectual property protection for 3D design models. For example, Ning et al. [16]
suggested embedding information in the spectrum and internal structures to encrypt.

4.1.3. Challenge 3: Innovating Construction Technologies

The challenge for innovating construction technologies brought by advances in 3DP
technologies could be summarized in the following question: How can we develop more
sustainable construction materials and systems, production models, and processes ex-
ploiting 3DP technology to contribute to creating a healthier environment and better
working conditions?
The common challenges associated with using 3DP technology, especially on larger
scales, are often technical. Since the introduction of 3DP in the construction industry in
the late 1990s, there has been a constant trend of research focusing on the development of
large-scale technology. The challenges of on-site 3DP are especially recognized as a problem
with the potential for future development [75]. The second group of technical challenges
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 18 of 24

arises from the need for adequate structural properties of printing materials on large scales.
Therefore, many authors focus their research on developing new materials [78,86].
More research is required to improve construction productivity, reduce labor, increase
safety, and reduce the industry’s ecological footprint [31]. Research efforts should also be
directed towards full automation to make the process economically viable and less labor
intensive. Furthermore, studies must continue to move toward large-scale experimentation
and building construction to ascertain the true capability of this technology and its applica-
tion in the industry [40]. In addition, other research topics could be related to lowering the
resource intensity of construction, including material consumption and labor cost, and less
environmental damage, such as waste and noise pollution [13].

Applied Materials and Systems Challenges and Trends

More interdisciplinary research is needed concerning material rheology, structural,
and printing systems. Regarding materials, the research could concern the using multiple
materials within the printing process to create a gradient of material properties [42,72].
On that line are studies on material placement, hydration control, and implementation
of reinforcement or flow-induced fiber orientation [19,52,68,72]. Studies on structural
properties of materials, such as anisotropic behavior under loading conditions in 3DPC [19],
could also be subject or further studies. Another interesting perspective is experimentation
with locally available or in situ materials to ensure effectiveness (e.g., found in expeditionary
environments as suggested in [40]).
Developing new structural systems that will enable robust and reliable fabrication
results could be a research goal, for example, self-reinforced systems for 3DPC elements [19].
In addition, more case studies on full-scale printed elements and their structural behav-
ior [41] are needed. For instance, the development of building components enabled through
F3DP was proposed as a research direction in [51]. In line with previous studies would be
future research in advancing technology for formwork fabrication (e.g., proposed in [19]
or [52]). Another promising approach is the development of optimized building elements,
for example, 3D printed clay bricks, using the bio-learning methodology proposed in [88].
On the other hand, complete automation represents a final goal, and much research
needs to develop methods that will facilitate fully autonomous processes. Consequently,
another area of further research could involve printers’ capabilities to build highly large-
scale constructions and more advanced automation systems [13]. To complete automation,
developing new printing systems that include effective joining systems eliminating manual
assembly techniques of printed elements is needed. Such research is already proposed for
3DPC [19] or future research on the concrete casting process that eliminates the need for
human intervention [52]. Schuldt et al. [40] remarked that until we develop methods to
automate reinforcement placement, utilities, windows, doors, roofs, and other building
elements, labor demand can only be reduced—not eliminated.
Equipment mobility issues for in situ fabrication is another topic relevant if we want
to move from using only prefabricated elements. For example, further research on in situ
digital fabrication was proposed in [67]. On the other hand, off-site construction (OSC) sup-
ported by innovative technologies, reviewed in [91,92], is another area of 3DP technology
application that requires further research that could contribute to further developments of
modern methods of construction (MMC).
The challenge of robotic interaction in 3DP building construction by 3DP is another
research subject. More research similar to the one by Zhang et al. [60] that describes a
system employing multiple mobile robots for printing large-scale concrete structures is
needed. Additionally, an interesting perspective on construction robotics towards the
unsupervised building, offered in [68], opens further possibilities for fully automated
on-site fabrication.
Artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions in the AEC industry are also a growing
research focus. However, the adoption of AI techniques still lags behind the processes in
other industries. Therefore, more research is needed on the optimization of design and
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 19 of 24

construction processes facilitated by systems based on 3DP and AI technologies. Moreover,

smart robotics, artificial intelligence of things (AIoT), 4D printing (4DP), digital twins,
and blockchains were recognized by Pan and Zhang [93] as topics for future research
that could facilitate automation and intelligence in construction. Respectively, 4DP, a
technology that enables 3D printed objects to change their shape and behavior over time in
response to a changeable environment, is in its experimental stage, opening new research
directions [94,95]. The significant advancement of 4DP from 3DP technology is its intelligent
behavior in transforming configurations for self-assembly, multi-functionality, and self-
repair [93].

Efficiency and Economy Challenges and Trends

Lowering costs is the goal that could be achieved by improving machines, tech-
nologies, and materials. However, a formal cost–benefit analysis should be conducted
for different cases (e.g., location, printing method, printing technology, and desired out-
put) to understand how the cost of 3D printed construction compares to that of con-
ventional construction [40]. Economic optimization is a general trend. For example,
Martínez-Rocamora et al. [80] indicated that we need research on the sequence of the nec-
essary position of a robotic arm to execute a building layout according to its design and
the machine’s range since the time for machine re-positioning can considerably influence
the execution time, and, as a consequence, the economic cost of the solution. Furthermore,
cost optimization could be achieved through improving technologies used in the design
process. For example, the research subject could focus on how to optimize labor due to
pre-processing file preparation, machinery arrangements, and post-processing cleaning
(already proposed for future research related to 3DPC in [19]). Finally, mass customization
is perceived as potentially one of the main advantages of 3DP in construction. In order to
exploit the benefits of this approach, it is necessary to evaluate the financial performance of
construction products during the whole life cycle [16].

Environmental and Societal Challenges and Trends

More research is needed to evaluate the selection of environmental indicators in the
application of 3DP technology and studies on achieving sustainable employment [16]. Fur-
thermore, to completely comprehend the environmental effects of 3D printed construction
and their contribution to the circular economy, a formal life-cycle analysis looking at the
sustainability aspects of the design, material preparation, construction, use, and eventual
demolition of a building is required [40]. Furthermore, studies on the potential impacts of
the raw materials used in the printing process and final product and the development of
consistent health and safety standards (such as emission and toxicological contact control
methods [16]) are needed.
On the other hand, an analysis of the tradeoffs between complete automation and
human employment should also be conducted to fully understand and address the im-
pacts of 3D printing on the construction industry [40]. Moreover, the introduction of 3DP
technology into full-scale construction is recognized as having potential for speeding up
the construction process and increasing workers’ safety [13,96], especially in dangerous
construction environments. However, the challenge is that new technology requires a
specialized workforce to operate the machines creating socio-economic problems. There-
fore, education of the workforce in the usage of 3DP machines as well as the creation of
simpler, more user-friendly software for machine operations are potential answers to this
challenge [75].

4.2. Research Limitations

Several limitations of the study were recognized, and adjustments for these factors
were made where possible. First, the authors of this study searched three major databases
for the journal papers published on 3DP technologies in architecture and used the snow-
balling method to find additional literature. That was considered to give a more thorough
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 20 of 24

overview of the research area relevant to this study. Although this enabled the creation of
more input data, bibliographic analysis was still performed on a limited sample and de-
pended on data provided by these databases. The scope of this study should be expanded
in future research to incorporate conference papers and other literature in order to provide
a broader perspective on the subject. Furthermore, retrieval bias and language bias led to
the potential limitation of the review. Additionally, when using the results of this research,
one should be aware of the authors’ bias and that a formal risk-of-bias assessment was
not performed.
Additionally, the keywords contained in the articles were non-standardized. Moreover,
several authors employed different variations of keywords. Finally, since several databases
and snowballing methods were used for literature collection and creation of the sample,
specific analyses, including co-citations, countries of origin of publications, and other more
detailed links between authors and publications, could not be performed by VOSviewer
due to the software limitation. However, creating a broad literature sample was valued
more than producing detailed metric analysis because the primary goal of this study was
to systematize and comprehend the scope of application of 3DP technology in architecture.
Finally, we believe that subject-specific knowledge of authors offers context for interpreting
bibliometric analysis.

5. Conclusions
This work reviews the literature on the application of 3DP technologies in the architec-
tural discipline. First, bibliometric analysis performed on the sample of 65 journal pa-pers
showed growth in the number of publications related to the developments in 3DP technolo-
gies. Second, we identified journals in which research on 3DP in architecture is published.
These journals primarily cover building and construction, engineering, and architecture
fields. Third, we isolated keywords to capture the prevalent and emerging topics in the
research. We also visualized keywords co-occurrence and identified three keyword clusters.
Fourth, we identified characteristic themes using qualitative analysis of full texts of papers
for generated keyword clusters. These themes coincide with the spheres of applications
of 3DP technologies in architecture—education, design, and the construction industry.
Fifth, content analysis of the complete texts enabled us to categorize 3DP systems based
on the scale. Two categories—small-scale and large-scale systems— were distinguished
and described in terms of differences in materials, methods, and applications. Sixth, we
classified all journal papers selected for the analyses with respect to year of publication,
cluster themes, and scale categories. Finally, we looked ahead to potential work directions
to provide researchers with innovative perspectives, and within three major themes, we
identified research challenges. Eventually, digital technologies and accelerated automation
will profoundly impact how we design and construct architecture, but it is also a new
system of production with economic, social, and political repercussions that necessitate
further debate.

Author Contributions: Conceptualization, M.Ž. and J.M.; methodology, M.Ž. and J.M.; validation,
M.Ž., J.M., R.O. and I.R.; investigation, M.Ž., J.M. and I.R.; data curation, M.Ž.; J.M., R.O. and I.R.;
writing—original draft preparation, M.Ž. and J.M.; writing—review and editing, M.Ž., J.M., R.O. and
I.R.; visualization, M.Ž. and I.R.; supervision, J.M. and R.O.; project administration, R.O. All authors
have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding: This research was funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Develop-
ment of the Republic Serbia, grant number 451-03-68/2020-14/200090. The research was done under
the research lab of the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Architecture—Laboratory for Innovative
Structures in Architecture (LISA).
Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement: Not applicable.
 Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 21 of 24

Buildings 2022, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 21design

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the of 24
of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or
in the decision to publish the results.
Appendix A
Appendix A

Figure A1. Publication rate of filtered articles on 3DP in architecture.

Figure A1. Publication rate of filtered articles on 3DP in architecture.
References
References
1. Carpo, M. The Digital Turn in Architecture 1992–2012; AD Reader; Wiley: Hoboken, NJ, USA, 2013; ISBN 978-1-118-42591-6.
1.2. Carpo,
Carpo,M. M.The TheDigital
SecondTurn in Architecture
Digital Turn: Design 1992–2012; AD Reader;Writing
Beyond Intelligence; Wiley: Architecture;
Hoboken, NJ, MITUSA,Press:
2013; ISBN 978-1-118-42591-6.
Cambridge, MA, USA, 2017;
2. Carpo, M. The Second Digital Turn: Design Beyond Intelligence; Writing Architecture; MIT Press: Cambridge, MA, USA, 2017; ISBN
ISBN 978-0-262-53402-4.
3. 978-0-262-53402-4.
Gramazio, F.; Kohler, G.; Kohler, M. Digital Materiality in Architecture; Prestel Pub: London, UK, 2008; ISBN 978-3-03778-122-7.
3.4. Gramazio,
Leach, N.; F.; Kohler,D.;
Turnbull, G.;Williams,
Kohler, M. C.;Digital Materiality
Williams, in Architecture;
C.J.H. Digital Tectonics;Prestel
Wiley: Pub: London,
Hoboken, NJ,UK,
USA,2008;
2004;ISBN
ISBN 978-3-03778-122-7.
978-0-470-85729-8.
4.5. Leach,
Menges, N.;A.;
Turnbull,
Ahlquist, D.;S.Williams, C.; Williams,
Computational C.J.H. Digital
Design Thinking: Tectonics;
Computation Wiley:
Design Hoboken,
Thinking; NJ, USA,
AD Reader; 2004;Hoboken,
Wiley: ISBN 978-0-470-85729-
NJ, USA, 2011;
8.ISBN 978-0-470-66570-1.
5.6. Menges, A.; Ahlquist,
Brell-Cokcan, S. Computational
S.; Braumann, J. Rob|ArchDesign Thinking:
2012: Robotic Computation
Fabrication Design Thinking;
in Architecture, Art andAD Reader;
Design; Wiley:Vienna,
Springer: Hoboken, NJ, USA,
Austria, 2013;
2011;
ISBNISBN 978-0-470-66570-1.
978-3-7091-1465-0.
6.7. Brell-Cokcan,
Claypool, M.; S.; Braumann,
Retsin, J. Rob|Arch
G.; Jimenez, 2012: M.J.;
M.; Garcia, Robotic Fabrication
Soler, in Building:
V. Robotic Architecture, Art and Design;
Architecture Springer:
in the Age Vienna,DETAIL
of Automation; Austria,Special;
2013;
ISBN
Detail978-3-7091-1465-0.
Business Information GmbH: München, Germany, 2019; ISBN 978-3-95553-424-0.
7.8. Claypool,
Willmann,M.; J.; Retsin,
Block, G.; Jimenez,M.;
P.; Hutter, M.;Byrne,
Garcia,K.;M.J.; Soler,T.
Schork, V.Robotic
RoboticFabrication
Building: Architecture in theArt
in Architecture, Ageand
of Automation;
Design 2018: DETAIL
ForewordSpe-by
cial; Detail
Sigrid Businessand
Brell-Çokcan Information GmbH: München,
Johannes Braumann, Germany,
Association 2019;
for Robots in ISBN 978-3-95553-424-0.
Architecture; Springer: Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany, 2018;
8. Willmann, J.; Block, P.; Hutter, M.; Byrne, K.; Schork, T. Robotic Fabrication in Architecture, Art and Design 2018: Foreword by Sigrid
ISBN 978-3-319-92294-2.
9. Brell-Çokcan and Johannes
Ngo, T.D.; Kashani, Braumann, Association
A.; Imbalzano, G.; Nguyen, forK.T.Q.;
Robots Hui,
in Architecture;
D. Additive Springer: Berlin/Heidelberg,
Manufacturing Germany,
(3D Printing): A Review2018;
ofISBN 978-
Materials,
3-319-92294-2.
Methods, Applications and Challenges. Compos. Part B Eng. 2018, 143, 172–196. [CrossRef]
9.10. Ngo, T.D.; Kashani,
Ali, M.H.; Abilgaziyev, A.; Imbalzano,
A.; Adair, D.G.; 4DNguyen,
Printing:K.T.Q.; Hui,Review
A Critical D. Additive Manufacturing
of Current (3D Printing):
Developments, and Future A Review of Materials,
Prospects. Int. J. Adv.
Methods, Applications
Manuf. Technol. 2019, 105, and
701–717.Challenges.
[CrossRef]Compos. Part B Eng. 2018, 143, 172–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compo-
11. sitesb.2018.02.012.
Pegna, J. Exploratory Investigation of Solid Freeform Construction. Autom. Constr. 1997, 5, 427–437. [CrossRef]
10.
12. Ali, Md.H.;
Chung, Abilgaziyev,
J.; Lee, A.; Adair,
G.; Kim, J.-H. D. 4Dfor
Framework Printing: A Critical
Technical Reviewofof3D
Specifications Current Developments,
Concrete and Constr.
Printers. Autom. Future 2021,
Prospects. Int. J.
127, 103732.
Adv. Manuf. Technol. 2019, 105, 701–717. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-019-04258-0.
[CrossRef]
11.
13. Pegna,
Ali, M.H.; J. Issayev,
Exploratory
G.; Shehab,Investigation
E.; Sarfraz, ofS. ASolid
CriticalFreeform
Review of Construction.
3D Printing andAutom. Constr. 1997, in 5,
Digital Manufacturing 427–437.
Construction
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0926-5805(96)00166-5.
Engineering. Rapid Prototyp. J. 2022, 28, 1312–1324. [CrossRef]
12.
14. Chung, J.; Lee, G.; Kim,
García-Alvarado, J.-H. FrameworkG.;
R.; Moroni-Orellana, for Banda-Pérez,
Technical Specifications of 3D Evaluation
P. Architectural Concrete Printers. Autom. Buildings.
of 3D-Printed Constr. 2021, 127, 103732.
Buildings 2021,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2021.103732.
11, 254. [CrossRef]
13.
15. Ali, Md.H.; Issayev,
Labonnote, G.; Shehab,
N.; Rønnquist, E.; Sarfraz,
A.; Manum, S. A Critical
B.; Rüther, Review
P. Additive of 3D Printing
Construction: and Digital Manufacturing
State-of-the-Art, Challenges and inOpportunities.
Construction
Engineering.
Autom. Constr. RPJ. 2022,
2016, 72,28, 1312–1324.
347–366. https://doi.org/10.1108/RPJ-07-2021-0160.
[CrossRef]
14.
16. García-Alvarado,
Ning, X.; Liu, T.; Wu, R.; Moroni-Orellana, G.; Banda-Pérez,
C.; Wang, C. 3D Printing P. Architectural
in Construction: Current Evaluation of 3D-PrintedHindrances,
Status, Implementation Buildings. Buildings 2021, 11,
and Development
254. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11060254.
Agenda. Adv. Civ. Eng. 2021, 2021, 1–12. [CrossRef]
15.
17. Labonnote,
Pan, Y.; Zhang,N.; Rønnquist,
Y.; Zhang, D.; A.;Song,
Manum, B.;Printing
Y. 3D Rüther,inP.Construction:
Additive Construction:
State of theState-of-the-Art, Challenges
Art and Applications. Int. J. and
Adv.Opportunities.
Manuf. Technol.
Autom. Constr. 2016, 72, 347–366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2016.08.026.
2021, 115, 1329–1348. [CrossRef]
16. Ning, X.; Liu, T.; Wu, C.; Wang, C. 3D Printing in Construction: Current Status, Implementation Hindrances, and Development
Agenda. Adv. Civ. Eng. 2021, 2021, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6665333.
17. Pan, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, D.; Song, Y. 3D Printing in Construction: State of the Art and Applications. Int. J. Adv. Manuf. Technol.
2021, 115, 1329–1348. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-021-07213-0.
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 22 of 24

18. Perkins, I.; Skitmore, M. Three-Dimensional Printing in the Construction Industry: A Review. Int. J. Constr. Manag. 2015, 15, 1–9.
[CrossRef]
19. Siddika, A.; Mamun, M.A.A.; Ferdous, W.; Saha, A.K.; Alyousef, R. 3D-Printed Concrete: Applications, Performance, and
Challenges. J. Sustain. Cem. Based Mater. 2020, 9, 127–164. [CrossRef]
20. Tay, Y.W.D.; Panda, B.; Paul, S.C.; Noor Mohamed, N.A.; Tan, M.J.; Leong, K.F. 3D Printing Trends in Building and Construction
Industry: A Review. Virtual Phys. Prototyp 2017, 12, 261–276. [CrossRef]
21. Wu, P.; Wang, J.; Wang, X. A Critical Review of the Use of 3-D Printing in the Construction Industry. Autom. Constr. 2016, 68,
21–31. [CrossRef]
22. Wu, P.; Zhao, X.; Baller, J.H.; Wang, X. Developing a Conceptual Framework to Improve the Implementation of 3D Printing
Technology in the Construction Industry. Archit. Sci. Rev. 2018, 61, 133–142. [CrossRef]
23. Zhang, J.; Wang, J.; Dong, S.; Yu, X.; Han, B. A Review of the Current Progress and Application of 3D Printed Concrete. Compos.
Part A Appl. Sci. Manuf. 2019, 125, 105533. [CrossRef]
24. Delgado Camacho, D.; Clayton, P.; O’Brien, W.J.; Seepersad, C.; Juenger, M.; Ferron, R.; Salamone, S. Applications of Additive
Manufacturing in the Construction Industry-A Forward-Looking Review. Autom. Constr. 2018, 89, 110–119. [CrossRef]
25. Duballet, R.; Baverel, O.; Dirrenberger, J. Classification of Building Systems for Concrete 3D Printing. Autom. Constr. 2017, 83,
247–258. [CrossRef]
26. Waldschmitt, B.; Costanzi, C.B.; Knaack, U.; Lange, J. 3D Printing of Column Structures for Architectural Applications. Archit.
Struct. Constr. 2022. [CrossRef]
27. Ma, G.; Wang, L.; Ju, Y. State-of-the-Art of 3D Printing Technology of Cementitious Material—An Emerging Technique for
Construction. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 2018, 61, 475–495. [CrossRef]
28. Paul, S.C.; van Zijl, G.P.A.G.; Tan, M.J.; Gibson, I. A Review of 3D Concrete Printing Systems and Materials Properties: Current
Status and Future Research Prospects. Rapid Prototyp. J. 2018, 24, 784–798. [CrossRef]
29. Hossain, M.A.; Zhumabekova, A.; Paul, S.C.; Kim, J.R. A Review of 3D Printing in Construction and Its Impact on the Labor
Market. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8492. [CrossRef]
30. Pomponi, F.; Moncaster, A. Embodied Carbon Mitigation and Reduction in the Built Environment-What Does the Evidence Say?
J. Environ. Manag. 2016, 181, 687–700. [CrossRef]
31. Anton, A.; Reiter, L.; Wangler, T.; Frangez, V.; Flatt, R.J.; Dillenburger, B. A 3D Concrete Printing Prefabrication Platform for
Bespoke Columns. Autom. Constr. 2021, 122, 103467. [CrossRef]
32. Petticrew, M.; Roberts, H. Systematic Reviews in the Social Sciences: A Practical Guide; Wiley: Hoboken, NJ, USA, 2008;
ISBN 978-1-4051-5014-9.
33. Liberati, A.; Altman, D.G.; Tetzlaff, J.; Mulrow, C.; Gøtzsche, P.C.; Ioannidis, J.P.A.; Clarke, M.; Devereaux, P.J.; Kleijnen, J.;
Moher, D. The PRISMA Statement for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Studies That Evaluate Health Care
Interventions: Explanation and Elaboration. J. Clin. Epidemiol. 2009, 62, e1–e34. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
34. Page, M.J.; McKenzie, J.E.; Bossuyt, P.M.; Boutron, I.; Hoffmann, T.C.; Mulrow, C.D.; Shamseer, L.; Tetzlaff, J.M.; Akl, E.A.;
Brennan, S.E.; et al. The PRISMA 2020 Statement: An Updated Guideline for Reporting Systematic Reviews. BMJ 2021, n71.
[CrossRef] [PubMed]
35. Saade, M.R.M.; Yahia, A.; Amor, B. How Has LCA Been Applied to 3D Printing? A Systematic Literature Review and Recommen-
dations for Future Studies. J. Clean. Prod. 2020, 244, 118803. [CrossRef]
36. Wohlin, C. Guidelines for Snowballing in Systematic Literature Studies and a Replication in Software Engineering. In Proceedings
of the 18th International Conference on Evaluation and Assessment in Software Engineering-EASE ’14, London, UK, 13–14 May
2014; ACM Press: London, UK, 2014; pp. 1–10.
37. Broadus, R.N. Toward a Definition of “Bibliometrics”. Scientometrics 1987, 12, 373–379. [CrossRef]
38. Soomro, S.A.; Casakin, H.; Georgiev, G.V. A Systematic Review on FabLab Environments and Creativity: Implications for Design.
Buildings 2022, 12, 804. [CrossRef]
39. van Eck, N.J.; Waltman, L. Visualizing Bibliometric Networks. In Measuring Scholarly Impact; Ding, Y., Rousseau, R., Wolfram, D.,
Eds.; Springer International Publishing: Cham, Switzerland, 2014; pp. 285–320. ISBN 978-3-319-10376-1.
40. Schuldt, S.J.; Jagoda, J.A.; Hoisington, A.J.; Delorit, J.D. A Systematic Review and Analysis of the Viability of 3D-Printed
Construction in Remote Environments. Autom. Constr. 2021, 125, 103642. [CrossRef]
41. Lowke, D.; Dini, E.; Perrot, A.; Weger, D.; Gehlen, C.; Dillenburger, B. Particle-Bed 3D Printing in Concrete Construction –
Possibilities and Challenges. Cem Concr Res. 2018, 112, 50–65. [CrossRef]
42. Gosselin, C.; Duballet, R.; Roux, P.; Gaudillière, N.; Dirrenberger, J.; Morel, P. Large-Scale 3D Printing of Ultra-High Performance
Concrete-A New Processing Route for Architects and Builders. Mater. Des. 2016, 100, 102–109. [CrossRef]
43. Howeidy, D.R.; Arafat, Z. The Impact of Using 3D Printing on Model Making Quality and Cost in the Architectural Design
Projects. Int. J. Appl. Eng. 2017, 12, 8.
44. Kempton, W.L. Meeting Learning Challenges in Product Design Education with and through Additive Manufacturing. JSCI 2017,
15, 11.
45. Loy, J. ELearning and EMaking: 3D Printing Blurring the Digital and the Physical. Educ. Sci. 2014, 4, 108–121. [CrossRef]
46. Boumaraf, H.; İnceoğlu, M. Integrating 3D Printing Technologies into Architectural Education as Design Tools. Emerg. Sci. J. 2020,
4, 73–81. [CrossRef]
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 23 of 24

47. Greenhalgh, S. The Effects of 3D Printing in Design Thinking and Design Education. J. Eng. Des. Technol. 2016, 14, 752–769.
[CrossRef]
48. Kim, S.; Shin, Y.; Park, J.; Lee, S.-W.; An, K. Exploring the Potential of 3D Printing Technology in Landscape Design Process. Land
2021, 10, 259. [CrossRef]
49. Wang, C.; Yap, J.B.H.; Li, H.; Chua, J.; Abdul-Razak, A.S.; Mohd-Rahim, F.A. Topographical Survey Engineering Education
Retrofitted by Computer-Aided 3D-Printing. Comput. Appl. Eng. Educ. 2018, 26, 2116–2130. [CrossRef]
50. Ruheili, A.A.; Hajri, S.A. The Role of 3D Printing Technology in Landscape Architecture Teaching and Learning Practices. Educ.
Sci. Theory Pract. 2021, 21, 13–26.
51. Bedarf, P.; Dutto, A.; Zanini, M.; Dillenburger, B. Foam 3D Printing for Construction: A Review of Applications, Materials, and
Processes. Autom. Constr. 2021, 130, 103861. [CrossRef]
52. Burger, J.; Lloret-Fritschi, E.; Scotto, F.; Demoulin, T.; Gebhard, L.; Mata-Falcón, J.; Gramazio, F.; Kohler, M.; Flatt, R.J. Eggshell:
Ultra-Thin Three-Dimensional Printed Formwork for Concrete Structures. 3D Print. Addit Manuf. 2020, 7, 48–59. [CrossRef]
53. Gomaa, M.; Jabi, W.; Veliz Reyes, A.; Soebarto, V. 3D Printing System for Earth-Based Construction: Case Study of Cob. Autom.
Constr. 2021, 124, 103577. [CrossRef]
54. de la Fuente, A.; Blanco, A.; Galeote, E.; Cavalaro, S. Structural Fibre-Reinforced Cement-Based Composite Designed for Particle
Bed 3D Printing Systems. Case Study Parque de Castilla Footbridge in Madrid. Cem Concr Res. 2022, 157, 106801. [CrossRef]
55. Jipa, A.; Dillenburger, B. 3D Printed Formwork for Concrete: State-of-the-Art, Opportunities, Challenges, and Applications. 3D
Print. Addit Manuf. 2022, 9, 84–107. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
56. Lim, J.H.; Weng, Y.; Pham, Q.-C. 3D Printing of Curved Concrete Surfaces Using Adaptable Membrane Formwork. Constr. Build
Mater. 2020, 232, 117075. [CrossRef]
57. Gardner, L.; Kyvelou, P.; Herbert, G.; Buchanan, C. Testing and Initial Verification of the World’s First Metal 3D Printed Bridge.
J. Constr. Steel Res. 2020, 172, 106233. [CrossRef]
58. Salet, T.A.M.; Ahmed, Z.Y.; Bos, F.P.; Laagland, H.L.M. Design of a 3D Printed Concrete Bridge by Testing. Virtual Phys. Prototyp.
2018, 13, 222–236. [CrossRef]
59. Vantyghem, G.; De Corte, W.; Shakour, E.; Amir, O. 3D Printing of a Post-Tensioned Concrete Girder Designed by Topology
Optimization. Autom. Constr. 2020, 112, 103084. [CrossRef]
60. Zhang, X.; Li, M.; Lim, J.H.; Weng, Y.; Tay, Y.W.D.; Pham, H.; Pham, Q.-C. Large-Scale 3D Printing by a Team of Mobile Robots.
Autom. Constr. 2018, 95, 98–106. [CrossRef]
61. van Woensel, R. Printing Architecture: An Overview of Existing and Promising Additive Manufacturing Methods and Their
Application in the Building Industry. Int. J. Constr. Environ. 2018, 9, 57–81. [CrossRef]
62. Leach, N. Size Matters: Why Architecture Is the Future of 3D Printing. Archit. Design 2017, 87, 76–83. [CrossRef]
63. Hu, H.; Cao, X.; Zhang, T.; Chen, Z.; Xie, J. Three-Dimensional Printing Materials for Cultural Innovation Products of Historical
Buildings. Buildings 2022, 12, 624. [CrossRef]
64. Kwon, Y.M.; Lee, Y.-A.; Kim, S.J. Case Study on 3D Printing Education in Fashion Design Coursework. Fash Text 2017, 4, 26.
[CrossRef]
65. Tomé, A.; Vizotto, I.; Valença, J.; Júlio, E. Innovative Method for Automatic Shape Generation and 3D Printing of Reduced-Scale
Models of Ultra-Thin Concrete Shells. Infrastructures 2018, 3, 5. [CrossRef]
66. Yi, H.; Kim, D.; Kim, Y.; Kim, D.; Koh, J.; Kim, M.-J. 3D-Printed Attachable Kinetic Shading Device with Alternate Actuation: Use
of Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) for Climate-Adaptive Responsive Architecture. Autom. Constr. 2020, 114, 103151. [CrossRef]
67. Asprone, D.; Menna, C.; Bos, F.P.; Salet, T.A.M.; Mata-Falcón, J.; Kaufmann, W. Rethinking Reinforcement for Digital Fabrication
with Concrete. Cem. Concr. Res. 2018, 112, 111–121. [CrossRef]
68. Melenbrink, N.; Werfel, J.; Menges, A. On-Site Autonomous Construction Robots: Towards Unsupervised Building. Autom.
Constr. 2020, 119, 103312. [CrossRef]
69. Wolfs, R.J.M.; Bos, F.P.; Salet, T.A.M. Early Age Mechanical Behaviour of 3D Printed Concrete: Numerical Modelling and
Experimental Testing. Cem. Concr. Res. 2018, 106, 103–116. [CrossRef]
70. Al Jassmi, H.; Al Najjar, F.; Mourad, A.-H.I. Large-Scale 3D Printing: The Way Forward. IOP Conf. Ser. Mater. Sci. Eng. 2018,
324, 012088. [CrossRef]
71. De Schutter, G.; Lesage, K.; Mechtcherine, V.; Nerella, V.N.; Habert, G.; Agusti-Juan, I. Vision of 3D Printing with
Concrete—Technical, Economic and Environmental Potentials. Cem. Concr. Res. 2018, 112, 25–36. [CrossRef]
72. Bos, F.; Wolfs, R.; Ahmed, Z.; Salet, T. Additive Manufacturing of Concrete in Construction: Potentials and Challenges of 3D
Concrete Printing. Virtual Phys. Prototyp. 2016, 11, 209–225. [CrossRef]
73. Keating, S.J.; Leland, J.C.; Cai, L.; Oxman, N. Toward Site-Specific and Self-Sufficient Robotic Fabrication on Architectural Scales.
Sci. Robot. 2017, 2, eaam8986. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
74. Buswell, R.A.; Leal de Silva, W.R.; Jones, S.Z.; Dirrenberger, J. 3D Printing Using Concrete Extrusion: A Roadmap for Research.
Cem. Concr. Res. 2018, 112, 37–49. [CrossRef]
75. Buchli, J.; Giftthaler, M.; Kumar, N.; Lussi, M.; Sandy, T.; Dörfler, K.; Hack, N. Digital in Situ Fabrication-Challenges and
Opportunities for Robotic in Situ Fabrication in Architecture, Construction, and Beyond. Cem. Concr. Res. 2018, 112, 66–75.
[CrossRef]
Buildings 2022, 12, 1319 24 of 24

76. Borg Costanzi, C.; Ahmed, Z.Y.; Schipper, H.R.; Bos, F.P.; Knaack, U.; Wolfs, R.J.M. 3D Printing Concrete on Temporary Surfaces:
The Design and Fabrication of a Concrete Shell Structure. Autom. Constr. 2018, 94, 395–404. [CrossRef]
77. Buchanan, C.; Gardner, L. Metal 3D Printing in Construction: A Review of Methods, Research, Applications, Opportunities and
Challenges. Eng. Struct. 2019, 180, 332–348. [CrossRef]
78. Reiter, L.; Wangler, T.; Anton, A.; Flatt, R.J. Setting on Demand for Digital Concrete-Principles, Measurements, Chemistry,
Validation. Cem. Concr. Res. 2020, 132, 106047. [CrossRef]
79. Mehar, P.; Khobragade, P.; Mendhe, M.; Bhada, S.; Singh, V.; Salodkar, P. 3D Printing Trends in Building and Construction Industry.
Int. J. Sci. Res. Sci. Technol. 2020, 7, 314–318. [CrossRef]
80. Martínez-Rocamora, A.; García-Alvarado, R.; Casanova-Medina, E.; González-Böhme, L.F.; Auat-Cheein, F. Parametric Program-
ming of 3D Printed Curved Walls for Cost-Efficient Building Design. J. Constr. Eng. Manag. 2020, 146, 04020039. [CrossRef]
81. Jagoda, J.; Diggs-McGee, B.; Kreiger, M.; Schuldt, S. The Viability and Simplicity of 3D-Printed Construction: A Military Case
Study. Infrastructures 2020, 5, 35. [CrossRef]
82. Han, D.; Yin, H.; Qu, M.; Zhu, J.; Wickes, A. Technical Analysis and Comparison of Formwork-Making Methods for Customized
Prefabricated Buildings: 3D Printing and Conventional Methods. J. Archit. Eng. 2020, 26, 04020001. [CrossRef]
83. Hack, N.; Dörfler, K.; Walzer, A.N.; Wangler, T.; Mata-Falcón, J.; Kumar, N.; Buchli, J.; Kaufmann, W.; Flatt, R.J.; Gramazio, F.; et al.
Structural Stay-in-Place Formwork for Robotic in Situ Fabrication of Non-Standard Concrete Structures: A Real Scale Architectural
Demonstrator. Autom. Constr. 2020, 115, 103197. [CrossRef]
84. El-Sayegh, S.; Romdhane, L.; Manjikian, S. A Critical Review of 3D Printing in Construction: Benefits, Challenges, and Risks.
Archiv. Civ. Mech. Eng. 2020, 20, 34. [CrossRef]
85. Carneau, P.; Mesnil, R.; Roussel, N.; Baverel, O. Additive Manufacturing of Cantilever-From Masonry to Concrete 3D Printing.
Autom. Constr. 2020, 116, 103184. [CrossRef]
86. Javed, A.; Mantawy, I.M.; Azizinamini, A. 3D-Printing of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete for Robotic Bridge Construction.
Transp. Res. Rec. 2021, 2675, 307–319. [CrossRef]
87. Katzer, J.; Skoratko, A. Concept of Using 3D Printing for Production of Concrete–Plastic Columns with Unconventional Cross-
Sections. Materials 2021, 14, 1565. [CrossRef]
88. Abdallah, Y.K.; Estévez, A.T. 3D-Printed Biodigital Clay Bricks. Biomimetics 2021, 6, 59. [CrossRef]
89. Celani, G. Digital Fabrication Laboratories: Pedagogy and Impacts on Architectural Education. Nexus Netw. J. 2012, 14, 469–482.
[CrossRef]
90. De Sampaio, C.; Spinosa, R.; Vicentin, J.; Tsukahara, D.; Silva, J.; Borghi, S.; Rostirolla, F. 3D Printing in Graphic Design Education.
In High Value Manufacturing: Advanced Research in Virtual and Rapid Prototyping; Taylor & Francis: Abingdon, UK, 2013; pp. 25–30.
ISBN 978-1-138-00137-4.
91. Hou, L.; Tan, Y.; Luo, W.; Xu, S.; Mao, C.; Moon, S. Towards a More Extensive Application of Off-Site Construction: A Technological
Review. Int. J. Constr. Manag. 2020, 22, 1–12. [CrossRef]
92. Wang, M.; Wang, C.C.; Sepasgozar, S.; Zlatanova, S. A Systematic Review of Digital Technology Adoption in Off-Site Construction:
Current Status and Future Direction towards Industry 4.0. Buildings 2020, 10, 204. [CrossRef]
93. Pan, Y.; Zhang, L. Roles of Artificial Intelligence in Construction Engineering and Management: A Critical Review and Future
Trends. Autom. Constr. 2021, 122, 103517. [CrossRef]
94. Mitchell, A.; Lafont, U.; Hołyńska, M.; Semprimoschnig, C. Additive Manufacturing—A Review of 4D Printing and Future
Applications. Addit. Manuf. 2018, 24, 606–626. [CrossRef]
95. Alshahrani, H.A. Review of 4D Printing Materials and Reinforced Composites: Behaviors, Applications and Challenges. J.
Sci.-Adv. Mater. Dev. 2021, 6, 167–185. [CrossRef]
96. Chea, C.P.; Bai, Y.; Pan, X.; Arashpour, M.; Xie, Y. An Integrated Review of Automation and Robotic Technologies for Structural
Prefabrication and Construction. Transp. Saf. Environ. 2020, 2, 81–96. [CrossRef]