Imagine going to a website, choosing a home and printing it out, just as you might do with a boarding card.

It sounds like something from the pages of science fiction, but elements of it are already available. WikiHouse is a website which allows anyone to upload or download a design for a home, modify it, then get a giant machine to cut it into plywood parts that slot together like Ikea furniture, using only a few bolts and screws.

Advances in 3D printing technology also mean printers can work with ordinary materials used in construction, such as concrete and steel.