- El Cosmico, a hotel and campground in Marfa, Texas.
- The hotel is making history with the construction of the world’s first 3D-printed hotel.
- The project will feature 43 new hotel units and 18 residential homes spread over 60 acres.
El Cosmico, a distinctive hotel and campground located in the Texas desert town of Marfa, is set to make history with the development of the world’s first 3D-printed hotel. Collaborating with 3D printing firm ICON and architects from the Bjarke Ingels Group, the project will encompass 43 new hotel units and 18 residential homes across a sprawling 60 acres.
Utilizing advanced 3D printing technology, this ambitious expansion is anticipated to be completed by 2026, aiming to establish a new benchmark for innovative and sustainable construction in the hospitality sector. The initiative, led by Austin-based ICON and designed by the Bjarke Ingels Group, seeks to push the boundaries of architectural creativity.
Liz Lambert, the owner of El Cosmico, emphasized the unparalleled flexibility offered by 3D printing, enabling the creation of unique curves and structures that would be prohibitively expensive using traditional construction methods.
“Most hotels are contained within four walls and a lot of times you are building the same unit over and over and over again,” Lambert stated. “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 initial units will feature single-story walls standing 3.7 meters high and will include a three-bedroom residence alongside a single-room hotel. The Vulcan printer, which towers at 4.7 meters and spans 14.2 meters in width, employs a proprietary cement mixture known as Lavacrete, specifically designed to withstand the desert’s fluctuating climate.
Jason Ballard, CEO of ICON, explained that the 3D printing process requires ongoing adjustments based on weather conditions to ensure the strength and durability of the material. Although this innovative technology opens new possibilities for construction, experts like Milad Bazli caution that it could threaten skilled labor jobs in remote regions.
Once completed in 2026, the hotel will offer rooms priced between $200 and $450 per night, demonstrating how 3D printing could redefine the future of hospitality and housing in challenging environments.
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