The World’s First 3D-Printed Hotel Takes Form in Texas
In the heart of the Texan desert, a colossal 3D printer, reminiscent of a crane, is revolutionizing hospitality by crafting a hotel layer by layer.
El Cosmico, an existing hotel and campground on Marfa’s outskirts, is expanding its footprint with an ambitious project: 43 new hotel units and 18 residential homes spread over 40 acres, all made possible by cutting-edge 3D printing technology.
According to owner Liz Lambert and her collaborators at Austin-based ICON and the Bjarke Ingels Group, this will be the world’s first 3D-printed hotel. Lambert emphasizes the creative freedom this technology affords, saying, “Traditionally, hotels are confined within rigid walls, often replicating the same design repeatedly. With this method, I can build with unparalleled fluidity, embracing curves, domes, and parabolas. It’s a transformative approach to construction.”
The units are designed to incorporate architectural elements that would typically be prohibitively expensive to achieve with conventional building methods. Currently under construction are two unique structures: a three-bedroom home and a single-room hotel suite, both featuring stunning, curvaceous beige walls. These are being shaped by ICON’s impressive Vulcan 3D printer, which spans 46.5 feet in width and stands 15.5 feet tall.
A technician closely monitors Vulcan as its robotic arm deftly navigates the site, applying Lavacrete—a proprietary cement-based mixture tailored for strength and versatility. ICON CEO Jason Ballard notes that the mixture can be adjusted depending on weather conditions, highlighting that factors like humidity and temperature influence both the material’s properties and the final aesthetic.
In addition to this groundbreaking hotel, ICON is also developing a 3D-printed neighborhood of homes near Austin. However, as this technology evolves, experts like Milad Bazli from Charles Darwin University warn that it could disrupt traditional labor markets, particularly in remote areas. “The social implications and economic impacts on local job markets will be critical considerations as we embrace 3D printing,” he states.
