This student-designed pod vending machine skyscraper concept involves reusable 3D printed apartments. Conceived by Haseef Rafiei, the Pod Vending Machine is described as a "house dispensing skyscraper." Based in Malaysia, the architect was inspired by Japanese culture, and specifically the avant garde capsule structures of the 1960s Metabolist Movement.
The vending machine skyscraper is an automated approach to compact living that uses an on-site 3D printer located on the top floor to offer a greater range of customization. The 3D printed pods are lowered via cranes on top of the existing structure, which is reminiscent of the game Connect Four.
The pod skyscraper could gain traction outside of Japan where housing accessibility and urbanization are leading towards smaller living spaces.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Reusable 3D Printing
- The concept of reusable 3D printed apartments opens up opportunities for sustainable and customizable housing solutions.
- Automated Compact Living
- The vending machine skyscraper represents the potential for automating compact living spaces, creating more efficient and convenient housing options.
- Urbanization-driven Small Living Spaces
- The pod skyscraper concept addresses the growing need for smaller living spaces in urban areas due to urbanization trends.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Architecture and Construction
- The reusable 3D printing trend presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the architecture and construction industries to revolutionize the way buildings are designed and constructed.
- Real Estate
- The automated compact living trend could disrupt the real estate industry by offering innovative solutions for urban living and changing the dynamics of housing market demand.
- Sustainable Housing
- The concept of reusable 3D printed apartments contributes to the sustainable housing industry by offering eco-friendly and customizable housing options.
