There’s no way around it – Australia is in the grip of an affordable housing crisis. This enormous economic burden is driving innovation as architects, builders and developers respond to this new challenge: how to create a quality build efficiently and affordably, with a sleek modern look.

While the solutions are complex, addressing construction costs and build times using innovative exterior solutions by James Hardie alongside new technologies like 3D printing could well be the answer. Introducing Genesis, a cutting-edge duplex housing project located in Sydney, NSW that delivers on both of these objectives.

In this article, we chat to the experts to explore how 3D printed home construction company Contour3D, in collaboration with James Hardie, is revolutionising traditional construction methods, which has the potential to provide more affordable home construction in the future.

James_Hardie_Genesis_Group_Architects_Contour3D_oblique-cladding-exterior (2).jpg

Introducing Genesis: A 3D printed house

Working on the design was architect Julian Brenchley of Group Architects, the creative concept architects of the innovative Contour3D, Genesis duplex build.

The project combined 3D printing technology in concrete for the ground floor – involving a large mobile gantry system to layer a specialised concrete mixture in a precise pattern – with lightweight modular construction for the second storey featuring Hardie™ fibre cement cladding products.

According to Julian, the biggest challenge faced on the project was the weather. “We were just so happy that the Contour3D concrete print was fast, meaning the second storey could be installed and clad quickly in Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding. It made everybody’s life much easier,” he explains.

The carpenter on the project, Monumental Building Group director, Nathan Woollams, concurs. “The primary challenges were coming up with ways to transition from other areas of the build and ensure that proper planning went into all penetrations of the building,” he says.

“This was assisted greatly by using products from James Hardie."

This combination of technologies and products meant faster build times, less construction waste, and higher thermal energy ratings – all huge wins.

“Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding is a great fit. We wanted to create a clean, crisp difference between the ground floor concrete printed feature and the first floor,” says Julian.

“The printed concrete has a distinct horizontal line and curves, while Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding has distinct vertical lines. The two combined makes for a striking external appearance.”

Working with Hardie™ products on a 3D printed house

From a design perspective, durable exterior cladding played a key role in the Contour3D build, providing an integrated and consistent facade solution that is engineered to stand up to harsh Australian conditions.

“The cladding was installed using Hardie™ Structural Batten, with Hardie™ Wrap Weather Barrier flashed at the base of the upper wall to form the top of the printed wall. A marriage made in heaven!” Together, these products help to create a comprehensive exterior that provides durability, moisture control and ventilation, and energy efficiency – making them a perfect pairing for a resilient and long-lasting build.

“Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding is also a cost-effective cladding product, easy and quick to install, easy to paint, long lasting and good looking,” says Julian.

Coming from a builder angle, carpenter Nathan adds that working with Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding is a great product choice against the Contour3D printed concrete.

“The rigid nature and consistent widths make it a perfect product to work with for setting out finish points and services,” he says. “An added bonus was the 4,200mm lengths, perfect for tall walls and meant we didn’t need any horizontal joints – a massive win.”

James_Hardie_Genesis_Group_Architects_Contour3D_oblique-cladding-exterior (3).jpg

Helping address affordable housing

According to Julian, the main goal of the Contour3D duplex build was to build Australia's first printed house. It also highlights how beautifully innovative products, such as Hardie™ fibre cement cladding products, can assist in speeding up build times and reducing costs.

“The role this build has for the future of housing is that 3D concrete printing can be easily integrated into a building project and is scalable to different project sizes,” explains Julian.

Using the right companion products has proven key to addressing build times on site. “This project has been built 40-50 per cent faster than a conventional masonry home due to product integration and communication with suppliers like James Hardie to find onsite solutions in a timely manner,” says Nathan.

He explains, “The slab went down in June, I started on site on July 19 2025 and we should be finished this side of Christmas with the full fitout. This is 50 per cent quicker than if you were to do a typical masonry build.”

James_Hardie_Genesis_Group_Architects_Contour3D_interior (1).jpg

Key materials on the 3D contour house

ContourCrete concrete: ContourCrete is a specialised, 3D printable concrete developed by Contour3D. It has been tested to have a 28-day strength of 48.0MPa. This means that after it cures, it can withstand significant compressive forces, which is hugely important for structural applications, and demonstrates the robust and enduring nature of this innovative technology.

James_Hardie_Genesis_Group_Architects_Contour3D_interior (2).jpg

Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding: This exterior cladding’s square and angled edges cast shadows that bring rhythm and depth to walls. “For the first floor of the Contour3D build we specified Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding in 300mm widths. It’s a great product that creates a vertical linear pattern and is painted with a crisp modern finish,” says Julian.

Better yet, the cladding can be easily installed thanks to the interlocking joining system between the boards. This make it super simple to install vertically or horizontally in single width or bespoke arrangements and creates a unique wide and deep groove to evoke the look of standing seam metal. Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding is available in board widths of 200mm or 300mm with 175mm or 275mm groove spacing.

Hardie™ Structural Batten: The Hardie™ Structural Batten is a castellated structural timber batten accessory that enables vertical Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding installation and facilitates drainage and ventilation in the wall cavity. The unique castellations and top face slope are designed to allow effective air ventilation and help reduce the risk of water pooling, so it can be used in a system that is compliant with drainage requirements of the National Construction Code 2022.

“The battens made installation easy with lengths that worked well for tight access,” says Nathan. “We love the fact that it helps to prevent any water or moisture in the cavity.”

Hardie™ Wrap Weather Barrier: Hardie™ Wrap Weather Barrier is a lightweight yet durable, vapour permeable wall wrap designed for use in residential timber and steel frame wall construction.

Made from an advanced triple-layered material, Hardie™ Wrap Weather Barrier is non-perforated and highly breathable, and designed to stop moisture ingress to the frame while allowing water vapour to escape.

Hardie™ Wrap Weather Barrier acts as a thermal shield around the Contour3D build. Its unique, reflective surface can help improve thermal performance, which contributes to a 7-star rating. It also reduces airflow around insulation, making the insulation work more effectively.

James_Hardie_Genesis_Group_Architects_Contour3D_oblique-cladding-exterior (4).jpg

The future is bright for 3D printed homes, Australia

Now that the project is complete, Julian has only positive reflections on the result of the 3D printed house. “The concept design was achieved, and the clients are ecstatic,” he says.

“The speed and accuracy of construction was amazing, and the scheduling of the first floor and Hardie™ exterior cladding came together in a heartbeat.”

Forecasting the future of construction, Julian is clear that the future is bright. “I really see the mainstream adoption of new technologies and innovative Hardie™ exterior cladding products to create awesome design outcomes,” he says.

Project details

Project: Genesis Duplex Home

Location: Sydney, NSW

Architect: Group Architects

Builder: Contour 3D and Monumental Building Group

Products:

Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding
Hardie™ Structural Batten
Hardie™ Wrap Weather Barrier

Architecture & Design Team

James Hardie Australia

Let’s connect!