The World’s First 3D-Printed Hotel Takes Shape in Texan Desert

In a groundbreaking venture, El Cosmico, a hotel located on the outskirts of Marfa, Texas, is set to become the world’s first 3D-printed hotel. The project, which includes 43 hotel units and 18 residential homes, spans over 40 acres. With the help of 3D printing company ICON and the Bjarke Ingels Group architects, the hotel is being built using a revolutionary 3D printer named Vulcan.

The Vulcan printer, which stands 15.5 feet tall and 46.5 feet wide, uses a cement-based material called Lavacrete to create the walls. This innovation allows the hotel to incorporate creative, flowing designs like curves and domes that would be too costly with traditional methods.

According to El Cosmico’s owner, Liz Lambert, the 3D printing process has opened up a world of architectural possibilities. “I’ve never been able to build with such little constraint and fluidity,” Lambert said. However, experts warn that the rise of 3D printing in construction could lead to the loss of skilled labor jobs, particularly in remote areas.