From Craft to Code: Integrating Flexibility of Construction 3D Printing Technologies in Small-Scale Architectural Construction

Despite the global momentum toward digital construction, architectural practice in Sri Lanka remains largely non-linear, labor-intensive, and dependent on craft-based systems. This study combines this hypothesis with a targeted questionnaire survey to profile the structure, workflows, and decision-making patterns of Sri Lankan architectural practice, assessing their capacity to absorb progressive technologies such as Construction 3D Printing / C3DP. Findings indicate that practice complexity is shaped by consortium-based services and negotiated contracts, while house-scale projects remain highly susceptible to design changes even at advanced stages, causing the otherwise linear RIBA model to take on a circular form. This informality creates both challenges and opportunities for the integration of C3DP. The paper concludes by mapping possible adoption dynamics for incorporating 3D printing into Sri Lanka’s construction industry, highlighting pathways for aligning emerging digital technologies with existing professional practices.