It could solve Britain’s housing crisis at the touch of a button.

That’s because boffins at Huddersfield University have become the first to create their own “apartment” – using a hi-tech 3D printer.

The international project, in partnership with students and teachers from the 3M futureLAB at the University of California (UCLA) and German printing firm Voxeljet, has been hailed as the first accommodation to be printed in a lab.

3D printing hit the news last year when an American group perfected a fully functioning hand gun.

But the technology is now also being used for all kinds of consumer products, including prosthetic limbs, car parts and even shoes.

The printed housing project has been led by professor, architect and futurist Peter Ebner, who said he wanted to push the boundaries of the technology.

He assembled a diverse team with skills in architecture, mechanical engineering, robotics, aerospace engineering and business.

The futuristic-looking “apartment” measuring just 2.2m (7ft 2in) by 2.2m (7ft 2in) was created at a German factory and features all ‘mod-cons’.

Prof Ebner said: “It is an experimental apartment which can be easily transported and integrated into any kind of setting.

“It has everything necessary inside: a bathroom, kitchen, bed and table in an aesthetically beautiful and smartly designed way.

“Apart from this minimum of functions it offers also a multi-media system with a projector.

“The apartment was printed in plastic based on sand and special glue and the undulating shape allows it to integrate easily most of the furniture.

“The space under the floor is also used as storage.

“It was evident there should be enough light for both comfort and visual reasons so the main source of fresh air and light is a window over the bed but there are also lots of artificial light sources.”

Click here to take you back to more Huddersfield news .

Want to read, watch and hear more? You can download the FREE Examiner Apple App  here , the FREE Examiner Android App  here  or you can view the paper as an e-edition on your Apple, Android or Kindle device by clicking  here

To follow us on Twitter click here