It’s a bike! It’s a car! It’s a velomobile! And it’s made from recycled and 3D printed materials.

A velomobile is a human powered vehicle that is generally made with three or four wheels. Velomobiles are generally made from retired bicycles.

Mark Richardson, however, took things a step further by combining recycled bicycles and other components with 3D printed couplings, to create the “Fab Velo,” a unique and fascinating example of ingenuity and the potential that 3D printing has to turn recycled waste into viable products.

Richardson, previously a senior designer at Ford Motors, has always focused on understanding modern transportation design trends, and supports the advancement of ecological and sustainable mobility systems.

Richardson used recycled waste, such as old bicycles, wheelchairs, and tents, to create a fully functional velomobile. This velomobile is made completely with common scraps, off-the-shelf parts, and 3D printed components. It is held together with the help of 3D printing technology, which made the coupling process possible. Corner blocks hold the frame’s structural components in place, which allows varying dimensions to be easily accommodated.

This project was carried out at Monash University Art Design & Architecture in Melbourne, and was part of an in-depth look at DIY transport and domestic-scale production with a focus on reusability. The project’s focus is to prove that product longevity can be achieved through modularity.

Completely customizable, the “Fab Velo” can be tailored and made at home by anyone using commonly found materials.