The cabin, which measures a diminutive 8 square meters was printed using environmentally friendly and sustainable bio-plastic and can be completely shredded down once it is no longer needed or useful, allowing the material to be reprinted into something else. There is also an accompanying bathtub, which sits alongside the house, presumably because it is too large to fit inside. This was also created via 3D printing. With everything necessary for a comfortable if minimalistic stay, DUS is currently inviting guests to book the cabin for short term lets and overnight stays.
Step through the porch into the cabin, situated in a disused industrial space, and you’ll be housed in a mere 25 cubic meters of dwelling space. There is space for a bed which can also be folded up to be used as seating during the day. Light comes into the house through a single window at one end. However, if you do feel a little claustrophobic, you can retire to the aforementioned porch and make use of the seating area. Out there, you’ll have the chance to enjoy the small garden surrounding the cabin and take DUS up on its recommendation to watch the sun set in the evening surrounded by “waving poplar trees.”
Structural stability is ensured by the use of three-dimensional walls, which also give the interior surfaces a futuristic geometric look. Due to the linseed oil contained in the material used in the printing of the house, every single surface in the house is black. The only concrete used was a very small amount included in the floor surface.
But there is far more to the tiny dwelling than its size and design. Apart from the novelty of spending a night in a one-of-a-kind micro house, the project could be a game changer in natural or man-made disaster situations. The speed at which this type of accommodation can be created and put to use means that commercial versions could be mass-produced to provide temporary housing for displaced individuals or families. It may also offer a viable and cost-effective solution for sustainable housing in urban areas where space is limited and prices may be prohibitive.
This remarkable dwelling is a precursor to DUS Architect’s rather more ambitious project. This is to be a full-sized 3D printed canal house in Amsterdam North which will, when completed, comprise 13 different rooms each consisting of various elements. The canal house project officially started in 2014 and is due to be completed in 2017. Once created, this 3D printed building will be an excellent example of a “Research and Design by Doing” project with input from a large team of partners. Feedback from the public will also play a significant part in the techniques used and in the final design.
Image source: DUS Architects builds 3D-printed micro home in Amsterdam
