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The First 3D Printed Hotel in the World Is Being Built in Texas Without Masons! Featuring 43 Rooms and 18 Residential Houses, This Pioneering Project Is Using a Giant 3D Printer
In the vast landscape of the Texan desert, workers have begun an innovative project: the construction of the first 3D printed hotel in the world. Located near the city of Marfa, El Cosmico will be expanded to include 43 rooms and 18 residential houses, all created with the help of a giant 3D printer. Will this be the end of masons in construction?
This venture is yet another example of how technology is revolutionizing the construction industry around the world.
Giant Scale 3D Printing
Photo: ICON
The construction of this hotel in Texas is unconventional, without the use of masons. Unlike traditional construction sites, with cranes and scaffolding, El Cosmico is being erected by a huge 3D printer called Vulcan.
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This machine, created by the robotics and 3D printing company ICON, measures 46.5 feet wide and 15.5 feet tall. Functioning like a perfect mason, it applies, layer by layer, a sand-colored material to the foundations of the hotel, creating curved walls that blend seamlessly into the desert environment.
According to Liz Lambert, owner of El Cosmico, the process is similar to how an inkjet printer operates, but on a much larger scale.
She stated that this technology offers unprecedented architectural freedom, allowing the creation of structures with curves and more organic shapes, something impossible with traditional construction methods. “I have never been able to construct with so few restrictions and so much fluidity,” Lambert explained in an interview.
Collaboration and Architectural Innovation in the Hotel Construction
Photo: ICON
The project is the result of a collaboration between ICON, Liz Lambert, and the renowned architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group.
The expansion of El Cosmico includes, in addition to the 43 hotel rooms, the construction of 18 residential houses on a 40-acre area. With the use of 3D printing, it will be possible to create domes, arches, and vaults that bring new possibilities for architectural design.
The models of the hotel interior reveal a unique environment, with curvilinear walls in cream tones and rounded wooden surfaces, reflecting the colors and textures of the surrounding desert.
In addition to aesthetic charm, these new structures will be made with “lavacrete,” a special low-carbon concrete developed by ICON, which is pigmented with local Texas materials to harmonize with the Marfa landscape.
Economic and Technological Impact
Photo: ICON
The construction of houses and hotels with 3D printers is not new for ICON. Founded in 2018, the company has already built homes in Texas and in Mexico, including a project with 100 residences in Georgetown, Texas.
Residents of those properties praised the durability of the walls and the excellent thermal insulation, ideal for the intense climate of the region.
In addition to housing projects, ICON is also involved in space ventures. Recently, the company unveiled Mars Dune Alpha, a 3D printed environment that simulates conditions on the planet Mars.
This project was developed in collaboration with NASA, which awarded ICON a $57 million contract to explore the feasibility of building structures on the moon using local materials.
Future of El Cosmico and 3D Printing Technology
Back on Earth, 3D printing technology presents significant potential to help solve the housing crisis in the United States.
In 2020, ICON constructed several houses for the Community First! Village, a project in Austin aimed at people experiencing chronic homelessness. Liz Lambert is also considering including affordable housing for El Cosmico staff as part of the future expansion plans for the hotel.
The new 3D printed hotel is expected to be completed by 2026, while the current location will remain open until 2025.
Until then, the Marfa desert will continue to be the stage for one of the most innovative and bold ventures in the hospitality sector, showcasing how the combination of technology and design can transform even the most arid landscapes into refuges of modernity and sophistication.
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