Excerpt: Desert Ark by designRESERVE explores architecture as a resilient, modular system for extreme environments. As China’s first 3D-printed concrete structure in a desert environment, the project supports ecological restoration in the Tengger Desert while testing rapid prefabrication and reversible construction. Shaped by wind and sand, it serves as a functional campsite and an architectural prototype for future extraterrestrial habitat of humankind.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] Abstract: As China’s first 3D-printed concrete structure in a desert environment, the project not only supports ecological restoration in Inner Mongolia, but also serves as an architectural prototype for future extraterrestrial habitat of humankind.
Project Summary: Tengger Desert is the fourth largest and southernmost desert in China. Since the early 90’s, a non-profit organization had been planting trees on the fringe of the desert to contain its hazardous expansion eastward. Commissioned by the organization, designRESERVE has designed a new campsite which provides shelter and supporting facilities for tree planting volunteers during field operation. Considering the severe site conditions, restrained budget and timeframe for construction, designRESERVE developed prototypes with 3D concrete printing technology to accommodate various types of use.
Key Details: The Tengger Desert, a major source of sandstorms threatening East Asia, has seen remarkable ecological restoration since the early 2000s through collaborative efforts of international funds, local government and non-profit organizations. Established by Mr. Wu Xiangrong in Alxa Left Banner, a non-profit group with the initiative of “Planting Trees, Planting Hearts” has made the most outstanding achievement through sustainable planting approach and with the aid of volunteers from all over China and overseas.
The rangers of desert-locking forest, as they call themselves, often endure extreme weather conditions during long time operations in the desert. Commissioned to design a field camp for rangers and volunteers, designRESERVE’s task is to create a durable, modular shelter system that also serves as a platform for public environmental education. The camp comprises nine modular units accommodating living room, kitchen, restrooms, showers, and storage. Each unit’s size and weight are optimized for transportation and fast assembly in remote desert areas. Arranged in an enclosed layout, the cluster, also called “Desert Ark”, provides a secure, aesthetically powerful, and spiritually enforcing retreat in the middle of desolate land.
The process of construction includes six major phases:
Phase 1_3D-printed concrete units are prefabricated by Robotic 3D Concrete Printing (R3DCP) system in a factory of Wuxi.
Phase 2_Deliver units by truck to desert site
Phase 3_Install the units on site with help of local herdsmen.
Phase 4_Prepare the foundation for the deck, with reusable cargo pallets for minimal environmental impact.
Phase 5 _ Build wood-plastic composite deck as common area for all units with retractable canopy to reduce solar heating in summer.
Phase 6_Install life supporting system including Low-E glass doors, water supply, drainage and solar panels.
Project Innovation: Given the desert’s harsh construction conditions and limited time frame, design team employed 3D concrete printing technology (supported by Prof. Xu Weiguo’s lab from Tsinghua University) for rapid on-site installation. Instead of building a concentrated volume, the required program of 150 sqm campsite is divided into nine modular units accommodating living room, kitchen, restrooms, bathroom, and storage. Most key interior fixtures are designed to integrate with the prefabrication of concrete bodies in the factory, resulting in minimized site laboring and easier maintenance. All concrete units are assembled on site in only two working days, with the aid of local herdsmen and regular vehicles and equipment.
Considering the site’s exposure to constant storms as strong as 34m/s in record, the profile of units is articulated with undulant curves to minimize wind load. The fluent texture of the building surface corresponds to the rolling landscape of surrounding dunes. Since the major component of printed concrete is essentially an alternative form of sand, the campsite thus achieves great harmony with nature both aesthetically and physically.
Design Benefits: The project utilizes reversible construction methods to minimize environmental impact, with the possibility of future relocations as the reforestation program expands. The 3-D printed concrete units sit directly on sand and are stabilized by their own weight. The wooden deck is supported by a network of reusable cargo pallets tied together with steel pipes. Physically as well as symbolically, the whole campsite is floating on sand. This approach significantly reduces the construction time, cost and energy consumption on site, while enhancing the structure’s resilience to the ever-changing contour of the desert.
Adjacent to the site, lies an intermittent desert lake fed by groundwater from nearby Helan Mountains, providing natural water supply for planting and camp activities. Using biodegradable septic tanks to collect and filtrate drainage, the campsite is able to recycle 100% sewage for irrigation and fertilization of planted trees.
In Summertime when daytime temperature could reach 45℃ high, the canopy covering campsite effectively screens heat over deck and concrete modules, eliminating the use of air-conditioning. During wintertime, all rooms could receive sufficient sunlight through a large opening of a glass door or skylight. The thickness and cavity of the concrete wall become an excellent insulation layer, maintaining indoor thermal comfort even during winter nights with outdoor temperature as low as minus 30℃. The campsite is fully powered by an off-grid PV system consisting of high-efficiency solar panels, resulting in zero carbon emission level and a fully self-sustainable project.
As China’s first 3D-printed concrete structure in the desert, Desert Ark shows promising application of the 3D concrete printing technology in extreme environments. The project not only supports ecological restoration in ethnic minority region of Inner Mongolia, but also serves as an architectural prototype for future extraterrestrial habitat of humankind.
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