ICON announced a major 3D printed home project in Texas.
Located in the city of Wimberley, just southwest of Austin, the company plans to build eight single-family residences using its increasingly powerful construction 3D print technology.
ICON explains the project:
“The newest ICON homes feature exquisite architecture, beautifully designed while offering enhanced comfort and a tranquil escape. Homebuyers can select from four different floor plans from ICON’s AlphaBeta and TextNext collections. The AlphaBeta home designs are ICON’s most spacious and luxurious collection, introducing contemporary open floor plans with light-filled interiors that blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. The TexNext home designs by world-renowned architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), honor Texas history and architectural heritage while reimagining and renewing it for the future. The unique architecture of these ICON homes has been further adapted to reflect the local landscape, presenting extraordinary designs that integrate the natural beauty of Wimberley living.”
There are several designs being offered, and each looks quite interesting. Above you can see an inside concept view of one design. Note the curvy walls and coarse layer lines indicating where the 3D printing extrusion occurred.
There are several interesting environmental aspects to the project.
Because the homes’ exteriors are in thick 3D printed concrete they are obviously much stronger than typical wood frame housing, and able to withstand far higher winds. Texas is a state subject to hurricanes, which seem to be increasing in frequency these days. ICON said the homes should be able to withstand winds up to 250mph (400kph), which is right at the top of the category 4 hurricane range (Category 5, a rare occurrence, exceeds 400kph winds).
The concrete walls are better insulators, making the homes more able to withstand sudden changes in outside temperatures. This could lead to lower energy needs for each home.
The design of the homes is also specifically for energy efficiency. ICON explained:
“ICON homes typically receive a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rating between 40-55, meaning ICON homes may be 45-60% more energy efficient than a standard new home. The final HERS rating will be field verified and will vary from home to home based on floor plan and final field test results.”
Finally, the 3D printer will use the company’s proprietary CarbonX material, which is a concrete that requires less CO2 emissions when produced. ICON said CarbonX is the “lowest carbon residential building system used at scale,” as documented in an MIT research report.
These homes will almost certainly last far longer than conventional homes, and we may see a shift towards 3D printed homes in the future because of the specific environmental advantages.
