Cover Beneath the six-metre oculus, the dining area is cradled by sweeping 3D-printed walls and a curved stairwell, expressing the sculptural and spatial ambition of Singapore’s first 3D-printed house
Beneath the six-metre oculus, the dining area is cradled by sweeping 3D-printed walls and a curved stairwell, expressing the sculptural and spatial ambition of Singapore’s first 3D-printed house
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This 3D-printed house in Singapore’s Bukit Timah sees the architect and founder of Park + Associates explore the creative and technical frontiers of additive manufacturing through the lens of his own family home
Singapore-based architecture firm Park + Associates has realised many noteworthy houses that embrace the tropical location while pushing the boundaries of conventional house design in the city-state. When it came to its founder and principal Lim Koon Park’s turn to design his own dwelling, these boundaries were pushed even further—he used 3D printing to construct it in collaboration with local 3D concrete specialist CES_InnovFab.
Located in Bukit Timah, the four-storey house spans approximately 6,130 sq ft and accommodates seven bedrooms. At its heart is a dramatic six-metre-high oculus that anchors the interiors and filters light into the core of the home. Lim lives here with his wife, three daughters who are studying abroad and a son who is also an architect. In this conversation, we find out more about this extraordinary case study and Singapore’s first 3D-printed house.
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Above Set within a typical Bukit Timah neighbourhood, the 3D-printed house stands apart with its monolithic, layered concrete façade—an architectural first in Singapore realised with CES_InnovFab
Set within a typical Bukit Timah neighbourhood, the 3D-printed house stands apart with its monolithic, layered concrete façade—an architectural first in Singapore realised with CES_InnovFab
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Above Looking up into the six-metre-tall oculus, the concentric 3D-printed layers frame the sky above and embody the poetic potential of additive construction. (Photo: Derek Swalwell)
Above The home’s façade in Bukit Timah reveals its distinctive striated concrete texture, a defining feature of the 3D-printed construction developed in collaboration with CES_InnovFab
Looking up into the six-metre-tall oculus, the concentric 3D-printed layers frame the sky above and embody the poetic potential of additive construction. (Photo: Derek Swalwell)
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How did you come to 3D-print your house? Did you look into the parameters and advantages?
I have always been intrigued by technologies being applied in construction, especially alternative construction methods and materials. So when the opportunity came to collaborate with CES_InnovFab on a large-scale application of 3D printing, it was clear we had to take it on. Around the same time, we felt like it was time to rebuild our family home, and the construction industry was experiencing an acute shortage of labour due to the pandemic so the timing could not have been more perfect.
The project didn’t start with the constraints or capabilities of [the method] in mind, as our aim was to see how the technology could be utilised in mainstream construction. We knew that we wanted to create good-quality architectural spaces, and that came first—like all our other projects of conventional building methods.
Above A curved canopy and layered striations across the 3D-printed façade signal the home’s material honesty and construction innovation from the street-facing elevation
Above The dining area sits beneath the six-metre-high oculus, framed by raw 3D-printed concrete walls whose rhythmic texture celebrates the layered precision of additive construction
A curved canopy and layered striations across the 3D-printed façade signal the home’s material honesty and construction innovation from the street-facing elevation
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Above Viewed from the lounge, the living spaces unfold beneath sinuous curves and textured 3D-printed walls, showcasing how architecture and atmosphere are seamlessly interwoven
Viewed from the lounge, the living spaces unfold beneath sinuous curves and textured 3D-printed walls, showcasing how architecture and atmosphere are seamlessly interwoven
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Did you look into precedents?
We found that 3D-printed projects were mostly in large, open sites for the manoeuvring of the printing arm and machinery. There were also few multi-storey 3D-printed projects. And as far as we are aware, there was no full-fledged 3D-printed architecture in Singapore.
Above A sculptural stairwell frames the ochre mineral-painted walls surrounding the oculus, offering one of the few accents of colour in the otherwise monochrome 3D-printed house
Above Curved ochre walls and layered volumes define the transitional spaces, expressing how circulation and light are choreographed within the 3D-printed home’s sculptural interior
A sculptural stairwell frames the ochre mineral-painted walls surrounding the oculus, offering one of the few accents of colour in the otherwise monochrome 3D-printed house
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Park + Associates’ projects are tactile and expressive. How did you marry this into the “effects” allowed by the method?
That is an interesting point you made about our projects. It was important for us not to “hide” the technology, and we did so by exposing the printed walls, expressing their strong and almost “brutal” textures. By approaching this3D-printed house as we would any other project, we focused on creating expressive and emotive spaces [such as] the intangible qualities of architecture—spatial quality, atmosphere, light and shadow—that are also comfortable to live in. For example, the oculus under the dining room is perhaps our favourite space. I enjoy the quality of light here that changes throughout the day and year.
Above Natural light filters through a narrow opening beside the stairs, softly illuminating the 3D-printed walls and articulating the quiet spatial rhythm of the upper levels
Natural light filters through a narrow opening beside the stairs, softly illuminating the 3D-printed walls and articulating the quiet spatial rhythm of the upper levels
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Can you expound on the 6m-tall oculus?
Here is one of the spaces where we have left the original surface finish of the 3D-printed walls as they are. We retained it mostly on the first storey to showcase the process and [potential] poetic expression of the technology. We also prioritised spatial experience and space-making; rooms are organised around the oculus, ensuring it is encountered throughout.
Above In the master bedroom, a corner window wraps the space with daylight while muted materials and curved 3D-printed surfaces maintain the house’s quiet spatial language
Above Ochre mineral-painted walls mark the sculptural centre of the home, contrasting the cool concrete palette and signalling the presence of the oculus beyond
In the master bedroom, a corner window wraps the space with daylight while muted materials and curved 3D-printed surfaces maintain the house’s quiet spatial language
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Can you talk about how you integrated other materials and challenges?
Concrete—3D printed or not—is very versatile in terms of how it interacts with other materials. 3D printing the walls just meant adding a unique texture onto an already beautiful material. The other materials in the house are timber and concrete, which work easily with concrete aesthetically. The only real difference was extra coordination and solving terminating and detailing issues on BIM (Building Information Modelling) beforehand.
We introduced some colour into the bathrooms [of the] monochromatic house. We used bright, colourful tiles in the showers, as well as leftover marble pieces sourced from waste [supplies] for the powder room. The only painted surface is the ochre mineral-painted walls outside the oculus.
Above Glazed openings and a gentle curve in the concrete wall draw light and breeze into the living space, underscoring the passive design principles behind the 3D-printed home
Glazed openings and a gentle curve in the concrete wall draw light and breeze into the living space, underscoring the passive design principles behind the 3D-printed home
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What were some insights or lessons learnt from this 3D-printed house?
We were more aware of the design and construction processes unique to 3D printing. Being our first time designing for 3D printing, we had to solve many problems on the go. For example, we did research and development with our aluminium manufacturer to ensure a watertight integration between the 3D-printed house’s external doors and windows, and the 3D-printed walls that are textured, rigid and curved at corners.
Another thing is transporting, lifting and installing the prefabricated and pre-printed wall panels, which we ended up making special anchors for. Ensuring site infrastructure readiness is a big [lesson], especially ensuring there is adequate electrical supply to power up the printing arm.
Above In the powder room, offcut marble fragments were repurposed into a patchwork floor finish, paired with textured 3D-printed walls to highlight material reuse and contrast. (Photo: Derek Swalwell)
Above The living area flows into the dining space beneath the oculus, revealing how curves, light and layered materiality guide the experience within the 3D-printed home
In the powder room, offcut marble fragments were repurposed into a patchwork floor finish, paired with textured 3D-printed walls to highlight material reuse and contrast. (Photo: Derek Swalwell)
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Do you think 3D printing is a feasible house construction method?
From a technical standpoint, 3D printing is absolutely feasible for house design or even other larger building typologies. However, it should be considered whether 3D printing is the best method for that particular project.
Above A reading nook features curved 3D-printed concrete walls left bare, highlighting the home’s raw materiality and the interplay of light across its textured surface
A reading nook features curved 3D-printed concrete walls left bare, highlighting the home’s raw materiality and the interplay of light across its textured surface
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What improvements can be made to make 3D printing more conducive for large-scale use in the industry?
A few things come to mind: the sustainable features of 3D printing could be enhanced by using recycled concrete; a finer nozzle would mean walls can be thinner and designs more intricate; and integrating steel fibres into the concrete mix would mean structural components can be printed.
Educational awareness and acceptance of the technology can be improved. We hope this project will raise interest and increase 3D printing’s adoption rate within the construction industry, and ultimately be more viable, accessible and economical in Singapore and the region.
Above Captured during construction, the 3D-printed concrete walls reveal their layered texture and curvature before finishing—demonstrating the expressive possibilities of the QR3D process. (Photo: Park + Associates)
Above A full-height panel wall during construction reveals the striated layers and alignment precision of QR3D’s additive printing method, before integration with other materials. (Photo: Park + Associates)
Captured during construction, the 3D-printed concrete walls reveal their layered texture and curvature before finishing—demonstrating the expressive possibilities of the QR3D process. (Photo: Park + Associates)
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A close-up of CES_InnovFab’s robotic arm in action, layering wet concrete with precision and control that defines the tactile geometry of the 3D-printed house. (Photo: Park + Associates)
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Do you think homeowners can accept this method?
From the consumer side of things, perhaps there needs to be a shift and acceptance from the [accepted idea of] very “polished” architecture and design, which is very much focused on the end product. QR3D is quite different from that in a way; it is as much about the process, journey, and the life of the building.
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Credits
Photography: Jovian Lim (unless otherwise stated)
