In the Texas desert, on the outskirts of the city of Marfa, a groundbreaking project is underway to print the world’s first hotel using a 3D printer. El Cosmico, an existing hotel and camping site, is expanding by adding 43 hotel rooms and 18 residential buildings spread over 16 hectares, all created using 3D printing technology.
The owners of El Cosmico are collaborating with the Texas-based company Icon, specializing in 3D printing, and the architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group. Hotel manager Liz Lambert highlights the creative opportunities this technology provides in architecture, allowing for the creation of unique shapes like domes and parabolas that go beyond the typical layouts of standard hotels.
The buildings constructed through 3D printing at El Cosmico will feature architectural elements that would be too costly to produce using traditional methods. The initial structures, including a three-room residence and a hotel room, are one-story buildings with walls up to 3.7 meters high, displaying smooth lines created by Icon’s Vulcan 3D printer.
The Vulcan printer operates by building up the walls layer by layer using a special cement composition called Lavacrete, which ensures both strength and simplicity in the printing process. Icon’s CEO Jason Ballard explains that the composition’s ingredients are adjusted based on weather conditions during construction.
Icon is also involved in a project to construct a quarter of residential buildings using 3D printing near Austin, Texas. However, the adoption of this technology could potentially lead to a decrease in job opportunities for skilled builders, according to Milad Bazli, a science and technology professor at Charles Darwin University in Australia, particularly in rural areas where construction is a significant source of income.
The expansion of El Cosmico is slated for completion by 2026, with nightly rates at the new 3D-printed hotel expected to range from $200 to $450. The innovative approach to construction and design at El Cosmico serves as a testament to the transformative capabilities of 3D printing technology in the hospitality industry.