Robots Build World's Largest 3D-Printed Neighborhood in Texas
Texas construction startup ICON is set to complete building what's reported to be the world's largest 3D-printed housing community this summer in Georgetown....
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Facts
- Texas construction startup ICON is set to complete building what's reported to be the world's largest 3D-printed housing community this summer in Georgetown.[1]
- The Wolf Ranch community, built by Dallas-based Hillwood Communities, has 100 homes printed by 46-foot wide robotic printers using Lavacrete, a concrete material.[2]
- In 2022, ICON began printing these homes, which cost between $450K and $600K. Over 25 have been sold, and some homeowners have already moved in.[3]
- Printing each single-story home using concrete powder, water, sand, and other additives took around three weeks. ICON claims this is a faster and cheaper way to build 3D homes.[4]
- The walls of these homes can resist water, mold, termites, and extreme weather. Their foundation and metal roofs are installed using traditional construction crews.[5]
- NASA has partnered with ICON to develop a construction system capable of building landing pads, roads, and housing on the lunar surface to support its Artemis Moon exploration program.[6][7]
Sources: [1]BERNAMA, [2]Forbes, [3]Engadget, [4]The Telegraph, [5]Reuters, [6]CNN and [7]CBS.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by The Engineer. 3D-printed homes are revolutionizing construction, solving labor shortages, making more sustainable products, using less energy, and producing less waste. They allow for easy customization as 3D printing enables complex shapes and innovative designs. It can also potentially create stronger structures with less — and even recycled — material. 3D-printed homes are the way forward.
- Narrative B, as provided by Journal. 3D-printed homes remain more of a novelty than a viable housing solution. The nascent technology has raised durability, safety, and long-term performance concerns. It can't yet replicate the complexity of traditional home building, which involves multiple materials and techniques. In any case, many '3D-printed' buildings still require significant conventional construction work.
