Architecture

Amsterdam's 3D-printed cabin offers tiny living by the canal

Amsterdam's 3D-printed cabin offers tiny living by the canal
The bio-plastic cabin can eventually be shredded and the material used again to re-print into different designs
The bio-plastic cabin can eventually be shredded and the material used again to re-print into different designs
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The cabin is part of DUS Architects' 3D Print Living Lab research
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The cabin is part of DUS Architects' 3D Print Living Lab research
DUS says the Urban is another step towards using its in-house developed 3D printing technology to build sustainable, customizable and on-demand housing
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DUS says the Urban is another step towards using its in-house developed 3D printing technology to build sustainable, customizable and on-demand housing
The Urban Cabin covers an area of 8 sq m (86 sq ft)
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The Urban Cabin covers an area of 8 sq m (86 sq ft)
The cabin has a mini-porch and an indoor space with a sofa that doubles as a bed
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The cabin has a mini-porch and an indoor space with a sofa that doubles as a bed
DUS says the design "showcases different types of façade ornament, form-optimization techniques and smart solutions for insulation and material consumption"
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DUS says the design "showcases different types of façade ornament, form-optimization techniques and smart solutions for insulation and material consumption"
The is a turfed garden area outside the cabin
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The is a turfed garden area outside the cabin
The structure was 3D printed in bio-plastic
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The structure was 3D printed in bio-plastic
The bio-plastic cabin can eventually be shredded and the material used again to re-print into different designs
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The bio-plastic cabin can eventually be shredded and the material used again to re-print into different designs
The cabin is located in a former industrial area of Amsterdam, Netherlands
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The cabin is located in a former industrial area of Amsterdam, Netherlands
Guests can book short stays in the cabin
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Guests can book short stays in the cabin
An outside bathtub is located on the grass outside the cabin
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An outside bathtub is located on the grass outside the cabin
The project plays with the relationship of indoor and outdoor spaces
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The project plays with the relationship of indoor and outdoor spaces
Windows are incorporated into the design to allow light into the cabin
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Windows are incorporated into the design to allow light into the cabin
There are blinds in the cabin to provide privacy for guests
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There are blinds in the cabin to provide privacy for guests
The aim of the project was to create a mini-retreat where people can "escape the speed of everyday city life"
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The aim of the project was to create a mini-retreat where people can "escape the speed of everyday city life"
The grass is used to demarcate the small garden area
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The grass is used to demarcate the small garden area
Inside, a sofa doubles as a twin bed
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Inside, a sofa doubles as a twin bed
The project shows that tiny houses of a similar size could be 3D printed
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The project shows that tiny houses of a similar size could be 3D printed
DUS says disaster relief shelters could also be 3D printed in this way
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DUS says disaster relief shelters could also be 3D printed in this way
The bed stretches right across the interior of the cabin
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The bed stretches right across the interior of the cabin
There is a pathway leading across the grass to the cabin
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There is a pathway leading across the grass to the cabin
Trees are incorporated into the design of the garden area
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Trees are incorporated into the design of the garden area
View gallery - 22 images

A former industrial corner of Amsterdam is now home to a tiny new cabin offering urban dwellers a mini-retreat to "escape the speed of everyday city life." Local firm DUS Architects 3D-printed the tiny guesthouse to accommodate short-term visitors, who can also enjoy the cabin's own mini-garden and outdoor bathtub.

The Urban Cabin is part of DUS Architects' 3D Print Living Lab research. The studio views it as an important step towards one day using its in-house 3D printing technology to build sustainable, customizable and on-demand housing solutions for fast-growing cities. At 8 sq m (86 sq ft), it's also in tiny house territory, demonstrating the potential of 3D-printing to become a useful method for constructing such dwellings.

To design the cabin, DUS tells New Atlas it employed an iterative and agile approach. The structure was printed in bio-plastic over a period of about four weeks. Using bio-plastic as the material means that the cabin is fully recyclable, so once it comes to the end of its lifespan it can be shredded and used again to re-print into different designs.

Once the printing was complete, the shelter was assembled using a number of joining methods including click-connections and glue. DUS says the design allows them to showcase various kinds of façade ornament, along with smart solutions for insulation and material consumption.

The structure was 3D printed in bio-plastic
The structure was 3D printed in bio-plastic

Among the features of the cabin are electricity, a mini-porch and an indoor space with a ceiling rising high over a sofa that doubles as a bed. The interior floor merges into the stepped porch and outside a turfed area on the ground provides a small garden area where the bathtub sits with running water. The aim of these features is to play with the relationship between the indoor and outdoor spaces.

Work on the cabin began last year and the completed guesthouse is currently on show in Amsterdam's inner north. It can be booked for a short stay by emailing DUS Architects.

Source: DUS Architects

View gallery - 22 images
2 comments
2 comments
Tom Lee Mullins
I think that is really nice. I would love to live in one on or near a beach to me (I live near some really nice beaches).
I think it would be great rental places at the beaches that are not far from me. It is a cool place that I think would do well.
Lardo
Nothing on what it cost. Given the amount of time it would take to print, I'm guessing it wasn't cheap.