El Cosmico, a unique hotel and campground in the Texan desert town of Marfa, is building the world’s first 3D-printed hotel.
Using cutting-edge technology, this project will feature 43 new hotel units and 18 residential homes on 60 acres. They have partnered led by Austin-based 3D-printing company ICON and arhirects from the Barke Ingels Group.
The initial units of the hotel will feature 3.7 meter high walls, a three-bedroom residence and a single-room hotel.
El Cosmico’s owner, Liz Lambert, highlighted the design and its flexibilty, saying, “Most hotels are contained within four walls and a lot of times you are building the same unit over and over and over again.”
He said. “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.”
ICON’s CEO, Jason Ballard, explained saying this process requires continuous adjustments according to weather conditions, ensuring the material’s strength and durability.
Experts like Milad Bazli warned that this technology opens new doors for innovative construction, but it could impact skilled labour jobs in remote areas.
The construction of El Cosmico is set to be completed by 2026, with a price range between $200 and $450 per night.
