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TL;DR
- El Cosmico, a hotel in Marfa, Texas, is expanding with 43 new 3D-printed hotel units and 18 residential homes across 60 acres, making it the world’s first 3D-printed hotel
- The project utilizes ICON’s Vulcan 3D printer, which uses a proprietary cement-based material called Lavacrete, allowing for unprecedented creativity in design and cost-effective construction of unique architectural features
- While 3D-printed construction offers exciting possibilities, it also raises concerns about the potential displacement of skilled labor jobs, particularly in remote areas
- The expansion is set to be completed by 2026, with hotel units ranging between $200 and $450 per night, showcasing the potential of 3D printing technology to revolutionize the construction industry
In a groundbreaking development, the world’s first 3D-printed hotel is taking shape in the Texan desert. El Cosmico, an existing hotel and campground located on the outskirts of Marfa, Texas, is undergoing a major expansion using cutting-edge 3D printing technology. The project, a collaboration between El Cosmico owner Liz Lambert, Austin-based 3D printing company ICON, and architects Bjarke Ingels Group, will feature 43 new hotel units and 18 residential homes spread across 60 acres.
The innovative construction method allows for unprecedented creativity in design, as the 3D printer can create architectural features that would be cost-prohibitive using traditional building techniques. Lambert emphasized the flexibility of the technology, stating, “I’ve never been able to build with such little constraint and such fluidity … just the curves, and the domes, and the parabolas. It’s a crazy way to build.“
The first two units under construction are a three-bedroom residential space and a single-room hotel unit, with single-story walls standing at 12 feet (3.7 meters) high. The 3D printer responsible for this feat is ICON’s Vulcan, a massive machine measuring 46.5 feet (14.2 m) wide, 15.5 feet (4.7 m) tall, and weighing 4.75 tons. A print technician monitors the printer as its robotic arm and nozzle move along a gantry, depositing a special cement-based material called Lavacrete.
According to ICON CEO and founder Jason Ballard, the proprietary mixture is designed for strength, affordable scale, and printability. Workers adjust and blend the ingredients based on weather conditions, as factors such as humidity, temperature, and irradiance can affect the material’s behavior and even the final color.
While 3D-printed construction offers exciting possibilities, it also raises concerns about the potential displacement of skilled labor jobs, particularly in remote areas. Milad Bazli, a science and technology lecturer at Charles Darwin University in Australia, noted, “I think from the social point of view and the effect on the economy in terms of the local jobs, especially in remote areas, that will be one of the challenges that we need to consider when we’re going to the 3D printing method.“
The expansion of El Cosmico is expected to be completed by 2026, with hotel units ranging between $200 and $450 per night. As the world’s first 3D-printed hotel takes shape, it serves as a testament to the potential of this innovative technology to revolutionize the construction industry and push the boundaries of architectural design.
News Source: Reuters
