Czech Republic Is Building One of the World’s Largest 3D Printed Churches

What is likely one of the largest 3D-printed churches in the world is under construction in the Czech Republic. The Holy Trinity Church and the Cardinal Josef Beran Community Center will open their doors in Neratovice in 2028.

The nave, tower and rectory of the church will be 3D printed. The Neratovice Community Center Foundation leads the project. The foundation chose 3D printing to create the organic shapes designed by architect Zdeněk Fránek without using formwork. These designs include curved walls and vaulted ovals.

Final render of the project

A 3D Printed Church in Three Stages

Construction 3D printing will be used in three different ways, making this project unique:

• Builders will print 870 unique elements for the nave. These will serve as permanent formwork and ensure accuracy. Workers will connect them with reinforcement and add reinforced concrete ribs and tie beams. The inner face of the printed elements will give the walls a distinct texture and contribute to the building’s acoustics.
• The tower will consist of 3D-printed blocks filled with concrete on site. The exterior facade will feature a climbing wall. This requires a sufficiently massive and robust structure.
• A robot will erect the rectory directly on site.

HSF System is managing the project. Its subsidiary Coral Construction Technologies will handle the concrete printing. Its CEO, Tomáš Kosa, added: “With conventional construction, walls curved in this way would require a large amount of bespoke formwork, including its manufacture, installation and subsequent removal. Here, we can prepare the geometry directly in a digital model and use it to produce the individual components.”

Construction has begun and the advantages of 3D printing are already apparent.

An unprecedented construction project has begun. It aims to build more than a church. It will create a gathering place for a parish that serves 13 municipalities. The building is expected to include meeting rooms, a gallery, exhibition spaces and a cafe. People will be able to celebrate weddings as well as attend concerts there.

The first phase covers the structural work on the main part of the church and should conclude by mid-2027. The second phase will focus on the tower, the rectory and the finishing touches. The project leaders hope for a full opening by the end of 2028. We will have to be patient a little longer! In the meantime, you can find more information HERE.

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*All photo credits: HSF System