Construction has now begun on El Cosmico, the world's first 3D-printed hotel based in the Texas desert near Marfa. A massive 3D printer called Vulcan, developed by Texas-based ICON, is building the hotel using a material called "lavacrete," designed to blend with the desert landscape. The project is a three way collaboration between ICON, hotel owner Liz Lambert, and architects from Bjarke Ingels Group. The expansion is designed to add 43 new hotel units, 18 luxury homes, and some affordable housing for staff potentially. The unique design concept features domes, arches, and curvilinear walls that reflect the desert's natural beauty.
Texas is set to make history with the construction of the world's first 3D-printed hotel, called El Cosmico, which is being built in the desert north of Marfa. This innovative project, which has just started construction, will use cutting-edge 3D printing technology to create unique, futuristic structures. A giant 3D printer, known as the Vulcan, is being used to build the hotel by laying down layer after layer of sand-colored material to form curvy, organic-shaped walls. The massive printer, measuring 46.5 feet wide and 15.5 feet tall, was developed by ICON, a Texas-based company that specializes in 3D printing and robotics.
The El Cosmico project is the result of a collaboration between hotel owner Liz Lambert, ICON, and the renowned architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). The plan is to expand the existing El Cosmico hotel by adding 43 new units and 18 residential homes on a 40-acre piece of land. This expansion will take full advantage of 3D printing technology to create structures with domes, arches, and vaults, offering a new level of design flexibility that traditional construction methods cannot achieve.
Mockup images of the hotel's interior reveal flowing, cream-colored walls and smooth, rounded wooden surfaces, with colors inspired by the surrounding desert landscape. In addition to the hotel units, several luxury 3D-printed homes are also part of the development. These homes are currently priced at USD 2.29 million or higher, making them a premium offering in the project.
The walls of these structures are made from a special type of concrete called "lavacrete," a proprietary material developed by ICON. Lavacrete is designed to be both durable and sustainable, with a compressive strength of between 2,000 and 3,500 pounds per square inch. The mixture incorporates local Texas materials and is pigmented to blend naturally with the desert environment.
Looking ahead, the project may also include affordable housing for hotel staff. While these plans are still in the early stages, Lambert has expressed that they are moving forward and remain an important part of the long-term vision for El Cosmico. The 3D-printed hotel promises to be a groundbreaking addition to the Texas landscape, showcasing the potential of advanced construction technology.
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