ARCH MODU is a housing for a 3.5 inch external hard drive intended for use in a home or small office network. The project had to accommodate the drive, keep it stable during operation, allow both vertical and horizontal orientations, provide a visible operating indicator and integrate the rear connections. I chose Teenage Engineering as the design reference because I liked the clarity of their products: simple geometries, visible structures, repeated modules and interfaces that are easy to understand.
I began with research into the hard drive itself and the way existing enclosures were constructed. The standardised dimensions of the 3.5 inch drive became an important starting point, including the fixing system and the small internal clearances needed for assembly and vibration. From there I moved into sketches, form studies and 3D printed models to work out scale, grip and interface placement before committing to the technical drawings.
ARCH MODU uses an extruded aluminium chassis because the material solves several problems at once: structural rigidity, heat dissipation and a clean manufacturing process. The front and rear panels are stamped aluminium, while a translucent polycarbonate element spreads the indicator light without needing extra graphics. The panels are fixed at the four corners so the enclosure can still be opened for maintenance. The final object can be used horizontally or vertically and can be stacked with identical units.
