By Chris Skeldon :strip_icc()/i.s3.glbimg.com/v1/AUTH_da025474c0c44edd99332dddb09cabe8/internal_photos/bs/2024/p/D/G32CWwQDqcjAhJKrDB2g/f194be88-916f-48e9-9e14-ace6e9e70376.jpg)
In the Texas desert, for the first time in history, a construction project uses new 3D printing technology. But the news is that this equipment is about the size of a crane. El Cosmico, the world's first 3D printed hotel and campground, is being built in the small town of Marfa, Texas. The project includes the construction of 43 additional hotel units and 18 residences on an area of 16 hectares.
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The site is being transformed into a new tourist attraction, thanks to the giant printer used to build the luxury hotel. Curious visitors marvel at the future advancement of the construction method, which aims to change the way new structures are built. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2026.
How does the new technology work?
The project uses the Vulcan printer developed by ICON. The company is recognized for its innovations in the technology and robotics market. The machine is 4.7 meters high and 14.2 meters wide. According to local media, Vulcan has the ability to print entire structures in layers, using special materials that resist the demands of the environment.
“Most hotels are limited to four walls, and the same unit is often built repeatedly. It has never been possible to build with so few constraints and so much flexibility, just using curves, domes and parabolas. It’s a crazy way to build,” said Liz Lambert, the hotel’s owner. “.
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Lambert, in collaboration with ICON and architects from the Bjarke Ingels Group, is shaping this project, changing perspectives on the construction of hotel spaces.
Vulcan printer features
According to Lambert, the biggest advantage of this 3D printer in the market is the ability to create and design structures that would normally be expensive if built using traditional construction methods. The hotel units will feature architectural details that would be very complex were it not for the Vulcan printer, as they were designed in an unconventional way.
The design of El Cosmico includes domes, arches and vaults. Moreover, the shapes are curvilinear, reflecting the natural aesthetics of the desert. The interior of the rooms is characterized by undulating walls, rounded wooden surfaces and an avant-garde style.
ICON, the company behind the technology, said there will also be a restaurant, public bathroom and private residences at the venue. Prices for these homes will start at $2.29 million. As for accommodation, prices range between $200 and $450 per night.