3dpod Pavilion / Obayashi

3D-printed, earthquake-proof building completed in Tokyo: 3dpod. Obayashi, one of the largest general contractors in Japan, founded in 1892, has completed “3dpod”, the first 3D-printed and earthquake-proof building in the country to receive ministerial certification and a building permit. The demonstration facility, open to the public, was built to evaluate the durability, structural, and environmental performance of 3d-printing, and to foster further its technological development. Architectural 3D printing is particularly challenging in earthquake-prone Japan, and, due to building regulation restrictions, it has so far been employed only in civil engineering and non-habitable, small structures. The main goal of the project was to meet the strict local requirements without relying on conventional reinforcement.