🐦 Nightingale · Complete Build Guide

Your Self-Sufficient
3D Printed
Mud House

From raw earth to a fully off-grid home — with solar energy, battery storage, and smart water sensors. A complete roadmap: steps, equipment, costs, and timeline.

~42 m²
Floor area
6–9 mo
Total timeline
$28–52k
Total budget
100%
Off-grid capable
💧 ⚡ Nightingale · 1-Bed Earthen Home 42 m² · Nubian Vault · 3D Printed Clay · Solar + Sensors
Project Overview

Four Phases to
a Complete Home

1
Foundation & Structure
⏱ Weeks 1–6
Site prep, soil testing, concrete footings, and 3D printing the mud walls with a WASP Crane printer.
2
Roof & Envelope
⏱ Weeks 7–14
Nubian vault or timber roof, lime plaster weathercoat, windows, arched door frames installed.
3
Solar & Water Systems
⏱ Weeks 15–22
Solar panels + battery bank, water harvesting tank, plumbing, and all smart sensor hardware.
4
Finishing & Go Live
⏱ Weeks 23–36
Interior plastering, earthen floor, dashboards go live, final inspections, move in.
Step by Step

Every Step of
the Build

01
Wk 1–2
Site Selection & Soil Analysis
Choose a flat or gently sloping plot of at least 200m². Send soil samples to a lab to test clay content (aim for 25–45% clay), pH, and organic matter. If clay is too high, add sand. Too low — source clay locally. Mark out the 7×6m footprint with stakes and string. Clear vegetation down to subsoil.
EarthworkPlanning
02
Wk 2–4
Concrete Strip Foundation
Dig 600mm deep × 400mm wide strip footings around the full perimeter plus the interior partition wall line. Pour C20 concrete with rebar mesh. Let cure 28 days minimum before any printing begins. Embed electrical conduit and water pipe sleeves through the footing now — far cheaper than cutting later. Cost: ~$1,800–$3,200 depending on concrete prices locally.
FoundationConcrete
03
Wk 4–5
Mud Mix Preparation & Printer Setup
Mix your earthen printing material: 30% clay, 40% silt/sand, 20% water, 10% chopped straw + optional 2% lime. Test consistency — roll a 4mm coil without cracking. Assemble the Crane WASP printer on-site (takes 2 people, ~2 hours). Upload your G-code from the nightingale_mudhouse.py script. Run a 5-layer test print on a spare area and calibrate pump pressure and extrusion rate before committing to the full build.
3D PrintingMix Design
04
Wk 5–9
Print the Walls — 112 Layers
The printer runs at ~200mm/s, but the real-world pace is 25cm of wall height per day to prevent collapse under wet weight — so expect 10–14 days of active printing across the ~2.8m wall height. Mist walls every 4 hours to prevent cracking. Pause every 20 layers to refill the clay hopper (70L capacity). Door and window voids are automatically skipped by the G-code. Insert timber lintels over all openings as you reach arch height.
3D PrintingWalls
05
Wk 9–12
Wall Curing + Lime Plaster
Allow walls to air-dry for 28 days. Fill any hairline cracks (totally normal) with clay slip. Apply two coats of lime plaster externally — this is the critical weatherproofing layer. First coat 15mm, second coat 8mm. Limewash colour of your choice. Internally, apply a fine earth plaster or lime render for a smooth, beautiful finish. This is where the organic texture of the printed layers becomes a design feature.
PlasterWeatherproofing
06
Wk 12–16
Nubian Vault Roof
The Nubian vault is the traditional self-supporting earthen roof — no formwork needed. Each layer of adobe corbels inward 2–3cm, leaning slightly toward the end wall. An experienced mason can build this by hand or a timber lean-to roof is a simpler alternative (5 rafters, OSB deck, EPDM rubber membrane, living sedum layer on top for insulation). Budget for timber roof: ~$2,400–$4,000. Add 60mm rigid insulation board under roof for thermal comfort.
RoofEarthen
07
Wk 16–18
Solar Panel Installation
Mount 8–10 × 415W monocrystalline panels on a south-facing roof rack or ground array. Run DC cables through pre-laid conduit into a dedicated electrical cupboard inside. Install: MPPT charge controller, 5kW hybrid inverter, 2× 100Ah LiFePO4 battery modules (10.24 kWh total). Wire AC distribution board with RCD protection. A 5kW system will generate 18–25 kWh/day in good sun — more than enough for a 1-bed home. Connect the ESP32-based SolarHome sensor board to the inverter's RS485 port for live monitoring.
SolarSensors
08
Wk 18–20
Water System: Tank, Pipes & Sensors
Install a 1000–2000L polyethylene rainwater tank on a compacted gravel base beside the house. Run HDPE pipe from tank through wall sleeve to kitchen and bathroom. Install YF-S201 flow sensors on each supply branch (shower, kitchen, toilet cistern, garden). Fit HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor inside the tank lid for level monitoring. Add a 12V DC pressure pump for mains-pressure delivery. Install an Atlas Scientific pH/TDS sensor inline on the drinking water supply. All sensors wire to the AquaHome ESP32 hub.
WaterSensors
09
Wk 20–22
Smart Sensor Network & Dashboards
Flash both ESP32 microcontrollers (one for energy, one for water). Connect to local Wi-Fi router (powered by solar). Configure MQTT broker (Mosquitto on Raspberry Pi 4). Point live data to the SolarHome and AquaHome dashboards built earlier — all running as a local web server accessible from any phone on the home network. Set up alerts: low battery, low tank, high flow anomaly (leak detection). Optional: add a Zigbee hub and smart plugs on all appliances for per-circuit monitoring.
IoTDashboardWater
10
Wk 22–36
Interior Fit-Out & Move In
Pour a compacted earth floor (clay + sand + linseed oil sealer for durability and warmth). Build kitchen bench from rammed earth with timber worktop. Install compost toilet (saves enormous water). Add a wood-burning rocket stove for winter heat — pairs perfectly with the thermal mass of the 350mm walls which self-regulate temperature within a 4°C band year-round. Final checks: structural, electrical sign-off, water quality test. You're in.
InteriorFinishing
What You Need

Equipment &
Hardware List

🖨️
WASP Crane Printer
Ø8.2m × H3.2m print volume · 25–38mm nozzle · 200mm/s · Prints raw earth, lime, clay mixes · Assembles in 2 hrs on site
€160,000
Buy · Lease · or hire a WASP-certified contractor (~$8–15k for a small house print)
🌍
Earthen Mix Materials
Local clay soil · Coarse sand · Chopped straw / rice husk · Lime (optional) · Water · ~8,400 L total volume for 7×6m house
$800–2,000
Sourced locally — often free if you excavate your own site
🏗️
Foundation & Roof
C20 concrete · Rebar · Timber rafters · OSB deck · EPDM membrane or sedum · Lime plaster (2 coats exterior)
$4,200–7,500
Roof is the most variable cost — timber lean-to is simplest
☀️
Solar Panel System
8–10 × 415W mono panels · 5kW hybrid inverter · 2× 100Ah LiFePO4 batteries (10.24 kWh) · MPPT controller · Mounting rails · DC/AC cabling
$8,500–14,000
Generates 18–25 kWh/day · 30% federal tax credit may apply
💧
Water System
1500L poly rainwater tank · DC pressure pump · HDPE pipework · Compost toilet · Simple gravity shower · Inline filter + UV steriliser
$1,800–3,400
Compost toilet eliminates all sewage infrastructure cost
📡
Smart Sensor Stack
2× ESP32 microcontrollers · YF-S201 flow sensors ×5 · HC-SR04 ultrasonic tank sensor · CT clamps for energy monitoring · Raspberry Pi 4 (server) · Atlas Scientific pH + TDS probes
$280–520
Runs the SolarHome + AquaHome dashboards on local Wi-Fi
Full Cost Breakdown

Budget: $28k–$52k
Self-Build Route

These figures assume you hire a WASP contractor for the printing (~$10k), do most labour yourself, and source materials locally. Costs vary hugely by region. The printer rental alone makes the biggest difference.

Category What's Included Low High % of Budget
🏗️ Foundation
Strip footings, concrete, rebar, excavation
Digger hire + concrete + labour
 $1,800 $3,200
~8%
🖨️ 3D Print (Walls)
Contractor hire + materials + pump
WASP contractor · 10–14 days printing
 $8,000 $15,000
~28%
🌿 Mud Mix Materials
Clay, sand, straw, lime, water
~8,400L total · often sourced free on-site
 $200 $2,000
~4%
🏠 Roof & Envelope
Timber frame, deck, membrane, plaster
Timber lean-to + lime plaster 2 coats
 $4,200 $7,500
~18%
☀️ Solar System
Panels, batteries, inverter, wiring
5kW · 10.24kWh LiFePO4 · installed
 $8,500 $14,000
~28%
💧 Water System
Tank, pump, pipe, compost toilet
1500L tank · DC pump · gravity plumbing
 $1,800 $3,400
~8%
📡 Sensors + Dashboards
ESP32s, sensors, Pi, cables
Full SolarHome + AquaHome stack
 $280 $520
~1%
🪵 Interior Fit-Out
Floor, kitchen, doors, windows, stove
Earth floor, rocket stove, basic fixtures
 $2,400 $5,000
~9%
📋 Permits + Contingency
Planning permission, inspections, 10% buffer
Varies enormously by country / region
 $1,200 $3,000
~6%
TOTAL (self-build, contractor print) $28,180 $53,620
100% off-grid capable
💡 How to reduce costs further
Dig and mix your own clay on-site (saves $1,500+). Do the plaster yourself — it's learnable in a weekend. Buy second-hand LiFePO4 batteries from EV recyclers (50–60% cheaper). DIY the sensor wiring using our code — the hardware is under $300. Choose a compost toilet — eliminates septic tank cost entirely ($3,000–8,000 saved).
⏱ What takes the most time?
Waiting. The walls need 28 days to cure before plastering. The concrete foundation needs 28 days before printing. That's built into the timeline. The actual printing is just 10–14 days. The solar installation is 2–3 days. The sensor network is a weekend project. Most of the 6–9 month timeline is curing, drying, and sequential dependencies between trades.
🌍 Real-world reference
WASP's Gaia house: $1,000 in materials, 100 hours of printing. Japan's Lib Earth House Model B: ~100m² with Crane WASP, timber frame, solar + battery, fully circular. IAAC Barcelona campus: 100m² low-carbon printed from local Collserola soil. All of these are real, inhabited, and documented projects.
🌡️ Why mud walls are brilliant
Your 350mm earthen walls are natural thermal batteries. They absorb heat during the day and release it at night, keeping the interior within a 4°C band year-round with zero mechanical heating or cooling. Combined with solar power and rainwater harvesting, your running costs approach zero. The WASP TECLA house uses less than 6kW total for the entire print — about the same as running a kettle for a day.
Systems Integration

How Everything
Connects

☀️ Energy System
8–10 × 415W Solar Panels
MPPT Charge Controller
5kW Hybrid Inverter
2× LiFePO4 100Ah Battery
ESP32 + CT Clamps (monitor)
SolarHome Dashboard (Pi)
⇄
MQTT
over
Wi-Fi
⇄
💧 Water System
Roof Catchment → 1500L Tank
HC-SR04 Tank Level Sensor
12V DC Pressure Pump
YF-S201 Flow Sensors × 5
pH + TDS Inline Probes
AquaHome Dashboard (Pi)
Raspberry Pi 4 runs Mosquitto MQTT broker · Node-RED flows · SolarHome + AquaHome dashboards on local web server
All accessible from any phone, tablet or laptop connected to the house Wi-Fi · No cloud dependency · Fully private
Choose Your Shell

Three Build Sizes.
One System.

All three shells use the same parametric WASP Crane workflow, solar + water system, and sensor stack. The only difference is floor area and the number of rooms. Download the OpenSCAD files below and scale any of these to your land.

Starter
Solo Studio
~28 m² · 1 room · 1 person
$16–32k
Self-build estimate · Contractor print
  • Single open-plan room with sleeping loft
  • Nubian vault or barrel-vault roof
  • 3kW solar · 5.12kWh LiFePO4 battery
  • 800L water tank · compost toilet
  • 3D print time approx. 6–8 days
  • Foundation footprint: 5.2m × 5.4m
Most Built
Standard 1-Bed
~42 m² · 2 rooms · 1–2 people
$28–54k
Self-build estimate · Contractor print
  • Bedroom + open kitchen/living area
  • Nubian vault roof with buttresses
  • 5kW solar · 10.24kWh LiFePO4 battery
  • 1,500L water tank · full plumbing
  • 3D print time approx. 10–14 days
  • Foundation footprint: 7m × 6m
  • All sensor dashboards included
Family
Family 2-Bed
~65 m² · 3 rooms · 2–4 people
$42–80k
Self-build estimate · Contractor print
  • 2 bedrooms + shared living/kitchen
  • Dual vault or extended barrel roof
  • 8kW solar · 20.48kWh LiFePO4 battery
  • 3,000L water tank · 2 wet rooms
  • 3D print time approx. 18–24 days
  • Foundation footprint: 9m × 7.2m
  • Modular extension possible
All builds are parametric. The OpenSCAD files below are written so you can change a single variable — FLOOR_AREA = 42 — and the wall geometry, print layers, and material quantities all scale automatically. The G-code templates export directly to WASP Crane format.
Parametric Design Files

Download. Build.
Adapt.

All files are free to use for personal builds. If you use these for a commercial project or share them, please credit Nightingale Living. More designs are in development — subscribe for updates.

Files hosted on GitHub · No login required · Updated as designs evolve

🏠
Solo Studio · Wall Profile
Parametric OpenSCAD file for the 28m² solo shell. Change floor area, wall thickness, door/window positions. Exports to STL or STEP for structural review.
OpenSCAD Free
↓
🏡
Standard 1-Bed · Wall Profile
Parametric OpenSCAD for the 42m² standard build with Nubian vault roof geometry. Includes buttress positions and arched window/door openings.
OpenSCAD Free
↓
🏘️
Family 2-Bed · Wall Profile
OpenSCAD for the 65m² family shell with dual vault roof and modular bedroom wing geometry. Designed to allow a future extension without reprinting.
OpenSCAD Free
↓
🖨️
WASP Crane G-code Generator
Python script that converts the OpenSCAD wall STL into WASP Crane–compatible G-code. Set layer height, print speed, nozzle diameter, and mud mix ratio. Outputs a print-ready file.
Python G-code Free
↓
📡
Sensor Stack · Full Code
Complete Arduino/ESP32 firmware for solar monitoring, water tank sensors, and MQTT broker setup. Includes Node-RED flow file and SolarHome + AquaHome dashboard config for Raspberry Pi.
Python C++ Free
↓
📄
Complete Build Guide · PDF
The full Nightingale Living guide as a downloadable PDF — all phases, equipment specs, budget breakdown, system diagrams, and a blank planning worksheet for your site and budget.
PDF Free
↓
GitHub repository: All files live at github.com/nightingaleint/living. Issues, forks and pull requests welcome — this is a living project. More shell designs (yurt-hybrid, underground, tiny-tower) are in development. If you build one of these, we'd love to hear about it: admin@nightingaleint.com
Manufacturers & Partners

Preferred Builders
and Delivery Partners

Nightingale Living is designed to work in two ways: clients can download the parametric files for self-build or prototyping, or they can request introductions to approved manufacturers who can quote, fabricate, deliver, and assemble on site. We welcome prefab partners, regional builders, and specialist teams who can take these designs from file to finished unit.

For clients
Choose a build type, download the OpenSCAD and Python files, or request a quote from one of our manufacturer partners. If you prefer a turnkey route, a partner can review your site, issue a build estimate, and handle fabrication and assembly.
For manufacturers
We are open to collaboration with prefab, modular, timber-frame, and 3D-print capable manufacturers. If your team can produce, ship, and install parametric building systems, we would like to hear from you.
Recommended partner profile
A good fit is a manufacturer with experience in modular construction, airtight envelopes, sustainable materials, and clear delivery/installation workflows. UK, EU, US, and Canada partners are all welcome where local standards and approvals allow.
Partnership language
We can share a parametric file pack, site summary, and client brief. In return, partners can provide feasibility feedback, manufacturing estimates, production lead times, and optional white-label or co-branded delivery options.
Interested in partnering?
Send us your company name, region, build system, maximum shipping radius, installation capability, and a short note on the kinds of projects you want to take on. We are especially interested in partners who can handle self-build assistance, contractor-led fabrication, or full turnkey delivery.