That Cements It
Videos of 3D-printed cement have earned more than 45 million views on TikTok. The process is similar to a home printer that automatically sets ink on paper, but the “ink” in this case is reinforced concrete, which is layered in successive rows as buildings are “printed” to completion. This is next-generation technology with the capacity to propel construction into the future—and it’s accessible now.
One of the videos’ creators, Aiman Hussein—known on TikTok as thelayerlord—works at Alquist 3D, a 3D-printing construction company created in 2020 to solve the housing crisis in rural and underserved communities. One of the homes featured in Hussein’s videos was built for Habitat for Humanity in Williamsburg, Virginia, and took only 22 hours to print the exterior shell. It’s the first owner-occupied 3D-printed home in the world.
Meanwhile, TikTok viewers are mesmerized by the “satisfying” process, which some have compared to squeezing toothpaste from a tube and swirling soft serve from an ice-cream machine.