Nations that set a good example for their citizens and other nations with respect to sustainable living should be admired and learned from. Too often, world superpowers set bad examples. To make up for their government’s reckless attitudes, states, provinces, regions, cities, and even individual citizens proactively take steps towards a greener future. In Switzerland, however, such progressive developments are coming from the top.

On top of the Empa and Eawag Next Evolution in Sustainable Building Technologies complex in Dübendorf sits the DFAB House. Completed in 2017, this 2,153 square-foot, three-story home was designed by a team of eight researchers at the ETH Zurich as part of the country?s National Centre of Competence in Research Digital Fabrication initiative. The purpose of the DFAB House was to show how 3D printing and robotics could be efficiently used to build sustainable housing.
With floor slabs formed using 3D-printed sand and timber frames assembled by robots, the DFAB House is a glowing example of smart design and construction. It was all assembled on-site by an adaptable robotic system created by the researchers. Fittingly enough, visiting academics will be the house’s main residents beginning this spring.

Above all else, it’s the home’s energy management system ? which controls potable water, drainage, heating, and cooling ? that make it so eco-friendly. Powered by photovoltaic modules on the roof, this system...