The Arc Pet Home: 3D Concrete Printed Shelter
Precision Manufacturing, Layer Mechanics & Material Hybridization
Design & Manufacturing Overview
The Arc Pet Home is an industrial exploration in bridging advanced 3D concrete printing (3DCP) with warm, tactile materials to create an architectural indoor shelter for companion animals. Designed for precision fabrication, the geometric shell utilizes specific printing parameters to optimize structural integrity, printing speed, and material joinery.
3DCP Printing Specifications & Wall Mechanics:
Main Shell: Printed with a Dual-Row 4 mm Nozzle at a 15 mm Layer Height up to a total product height of 1050 mm, ensuring high thermal mass, acoustic insulation, and shell stability.
Front Panel Recess: Transitioned to a Single-Row 6 mm Nozzle (maintaining the 1050 mm total height and 15 mm layer height). This increases the structural wall thickness at the perimeter, forming a built-in slot for panel installation.
Material Hybridization & CMF:
Concrete Shell: Raw 3D-printed concrete finish, showcasing the natural layer lines ($15\text{ mm}$ build height) for a tactile, structural, and acoustic interior space.
Plywood Facade: Precision CNC-cut plywood panels—offering a half-open front entrance for easy access and a fully closed rear facade for enclosure and protection.
Acrylic Concept (Vibrant Edition): Explored colored plexiglass inlays to introduce vibrant translucency and modern colorways (such as the Teal Haven concept), contrasting the matte concrete texture.
