The expansion of El Cosmico is anticipated to be complete by 2026. Credit: Nik Lanús on Unsplash.

A 3D-printed hotel project, said to be a world-first, is taking shape in Marfa, a city in Texas, US.

This project is the result of an expansion of El Cosmico, an existing hotel and campground, which will now extend over a 60-acre plot.

It includes the construction of 43 new hotel units and 18 residential homes, all created using a 3D printer.

Austin-based 3D printing company ICON and architects Bjarke Ingels Group have partnered to bring this concept to life.

3D printing offers several advantages over traditional construction methods, including increased speed and cost-effectiveness, as well as reduced labour requirements and minimal material waste.

Reuters quoted El Cosmico owner Liz Lambert, who expressed her excitement about the project’s potential: “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,” she said, highlighting the design freedom that 3D printing allows.

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The first two units under construction showcase the technology’s capabilities, featuring single-storey, 12ft-high walls in a three-bedroom residential space and a single-room hotel unit.

ICON’s large-scale 3D printer Vulcan is responsible for crafting the curvy, beige-coloured walls.

ICON CEO and founder Jason Ballard explained the process, noting that the “ink” used is Lavacrete, a special cement-based material.

Emphasising how weather conditions influence the material’s properties and even its final colour, he said: “The magic happens in the admixtures that allow us to continue printing.”

The expansion of El Cosmico is anticipated to be completed by 2026, with hotel units priced between $200 and $450 per night.

ICON is also constructing a 3D-printed neighbourhood in Georgetown, Texas, featuring homes with concrete walls that are resistant to water, mould, termites, and extreme weather.