A sleek new bus stop has landed in Nuanu Creative City—built not by hand, but by a robot arm.
The facility, dubbed Bus Stop Enam, was completed in just four days using advanced 3D printing technology, becoming one of the first examples in Bali of public infrastructure constructed using a single-arm printing model known as L3D1.
Nuanu Creative City, a development located on Bali’s west coast, is spearheading the use of 3D printing in architecture and infrastructure.
CEO Lev Kroll expressed excitement over the project’s potential to transform building methods across the island.
“This bus stop gave us the chance to test the potential of this technology in everyday life—to explore form, speed, and function—while remaining true to our design values,” Kroll said in a written statement on 23 April 2025.
“Since this is still an early-stage effort, we’re trying to understand both the opportunities and limitations of the method as a key step toward smarter, more creative development.”
Smart design, faster build
According to Nuanu, the structure was built using a dense, pre-programmed mix intended to improve structural integrity and reduce long-term maintenance.
The design also includes built-in slow components, which the developer says are meant to simplify transport and assembly—offering what they view as a glimpse into how modular public infrastructure could evolve in the future.
Bus Stop Enam isn’t a roadside shelter, but a key feature of Nuanu’s 44-hectare complex. It serves as a waiting area for visitors looking to board vehicles that travel within the expansive creative and cultural district.
A lab for architectural experimentation
The bus stop project is part of a broader push by Nuanu to explore sustainable and experimental building practices. The developer has established a small on-site research lab dedicated to 3D printing architecture, where structural techniques, new materials, and design prototypes are constantly being tested.
Looking ahead, Nuanu aims to transform the lab into an educational space.
“We want this to be a place where children can engage creatively with emerging technologies,” the company stated, emphasizing the goal of turning architectural innovation into a hands-on learning experience.
With a 3D-printed future taking shape at bus-stop scale, Nuanu’s bet on tech-driven development could mark the beginning of a smarter building era in Bali.
