The Japanese city of Arida in Wakayama Prefecture is planning to build a unique railway station that will be completely 3D printed. The installation of the structure will take a record short time – only six hours. The compact station will be 2,6 meters high and 6,3 meters wide, MIR 24 reports with reference to New Atlas.

The station's design will reflect local flavour – the façade will be decorated with images of the famous local oranges and fish, and the interior will be equipped with seating areas for passengers.

The West Japan Railway Company notes that the innovative construction technology will eliminate traditional formwork, which will provide significantly greater freedom in the formation of architectural solutions and increase the flexibility of the structure. The company emphasizes that the design of the building is specially developed taking into account the "unique features of the area."

The technological process involves prefabrication of the building elements at a factory, where a specialized 3D printer will apply a cement-like mixture layer by layer to create the necessary shapes. The finished components will be delivered to the construction site and assembled by crane between the evening and morning train runs. The project is scheduled for completion on March 25.

This project is experimental. If the new station proves to be functional for passengers and cost-effective to operate, similar technology may be used in other parts of Japan.