Bratislava welcomes first-ever 3D printed bus stop

According to The Slovak Spectator, Bratislava has welcomed the city’s first-ever 3D printed bus stop – located on Harmincova Street in the Dúbravka borough. Completed in early April, the bus stop is the result of a collaboration between the architectural studio Architekti Šebo Lichý and ITB Development – the investor behind the nearby Čerešne residential project – as well as Collarch and the Czech company ICE Industrial Services, which handled the 3D printing of the concrete components.

“The project presented an opportunity for us to test a new technological approach – concrete 3D printing – which allows for the creation of complex geometries without the need for formwork,” the architects wrote on their website. “Experimentation and innovation are always a challenge, but in this case – a public space project, and one as heavily used as a public transport stop – the stakes are even higher, which is why thorough testing was essential.”

The structure is composed of just four main elements, significantly reducing material consumption, waste, and environmental impact. The design prioritised functionality, ergonomics, and aesthetics. The concrete form, with its sharply defined lines and wall openings, interacts with light and is illuminated in the evenings. The bus stop is also intended to be durable, long-lasting, and low-maintenance.

The project is the culmination of several years of cooperation, with ICE Industrial Services managing its realisation. “This was the very first time we printed a five-metre-wide arch directly onto a pre-printed mould,” said Michal Mačuda from ICE Industrial Services. “As far as we know, this is a unique achievement – we haven’t seen anything like it done anywhere else in the world.”