As China’s first 3D-printed concrete structure in 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 Name: Desert Ark
Studio Name: designRESERVE
Project Location: Alxa Left Banner, Inner Mongolia, China
Completed Year: 2025. 05
Gross Area: 150 Sqm
Design Team: Jingning Huang, Yanbo Xu
Photographer: ATDEF team, Huaer Lin, Ziwen Hu, Yong Hu
Project Summary
Tengger Desert is the fourth largest and southern most desert in China. Since 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 initiative of “Planting Trees, Planting Hearts” has made the most outstanding achievement through sustainable planting approach and with the aids 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 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.
