You Can Now Buy a Home in America’s First 3D Printed Neighborhood

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The first four 3D-printed homes to hit the US market are ready for new owners in Austin, Texas. The East 17th Street Residences are a mini-neighborhood of modern black and white homes designed by Logan Architecture and built by construction technology company ICON. Each is slightly different in size and layout, ranging from 900 to 2,000 square feet and costing between $ 450,000 and $ 745,000.

One of the first four fully 3D printed houses in the US, designed by Logan Architecture and built by construction technology company ICON.

One of the first four fully 3D printed houses in the US, designed by Logan Architecture and built by construction technology company ICON.

One of the first four fully 3D printed houses in the US, designed by Logan Architecture and built by construction technology company ICON.

It took the groundbreaking homes just five to seven days to print using a proprietary cement-based material called Lavacrete, which ICON says is more durable than traditional building materials. Only the first floor of each house was 3D printed; the upper floors were built using more conventional methods and materials and are lined with timber framing and black metal standing seam cladding. ICON’s Vulcan building system uses robots to layer Lavacrete into corrugated surfaces, creating structures that can withstand fire, flood, wind, and other natural disasters better than conventionally built homes.

The interiors of the new 3D-printed houses are characterized by textured walls, wood accents and many modern amenities.

The interiors of the new 3D-printed houses are characterized by textured walls, wood accents and many modern amenities.

The architectural design of the East 17th Residences is a concert between the stereotomic stone-like nature of the 3D-printed concrete building bases and the tectonic, traditionally framed upper volumes supported by their bases, ”says Logan Architecture. “This duality and the geometry it shapes are inspired by the Neolithic village of Skara Brae on Orkney Island in northern Scotland. Skara Brae was born in 3,180 BC. And was actively inhabited for over 600 years. Although they have been separated from the houses from the 17th and 18th centuries for five millennia.

Modern kitchen area in Logan Architecture and ICON's 3D printed houses in Austin.

Modern kitchen area in Logan Architecture and ICON’s 3D printed houses in Austin.

Simple, bright living space in Logan Architecture and ICON's 3D printed houses in Austin.

Simple, bright living space in Logan Architecture and ICON’s 3D printed houses in Austin.

“3Strands’ East 17th Residences Development are the first 3D printed homes for sale in the United States to be built using ICON’s proprietary technology and advanced materials – the equivalent of readily available 21st century stone. Like Skara Brae and the meticulous stone work of its builders, the design of the East 17th Residences is pushing the limits of what concrete can do and exploring the limits of what shape our new stone age should take. And maybe 5,000 years from now, a future civilization will be amazed at what 3Strands and ICON have achieved with such primitive technology. “

The story goes on

The interior designer Claire Zinnecker was inspired by the southwestern style for the bright, bright rooms in the houses. A limited color palette of green, white and terracotta harmonises with the construction materials of wood, metal and concrete in the houses. The visibility of the 3D printed walls on the inside of the first floor is a primary design feature that adds an interesting structural and pattern element to any room.

Look at the first community of 3D printed houses on the market in the United States.  Designed by Logan Architecture and built by ICON in Austin, Texas.

Look at the first community of 3D printed houses on the market in the US. Designed by Logan Architecture and built by ICON in Austin, Texas.

The 17th Street project is ICON’s second development in Austin, but the first to be made public. Before that came “Community First! Village ”, which consists of affordable houses designed to counteract homelessness in the city. The company also previously worked with the Texas Military Department to design and 3D print an energy efficient training shack in Bastrop, Texas, which is currently the largest 3D printed structure in North America. Their technology is even in demand with NASA, which commissioned a student-led prototype of a lunar rocket landing pad with a ventilated design that directs the cloud away from the lunar surface. ICON is also working with NASA to 3D print an analog habitat of Mars designed by Bjarke Ingels Group at their Johnson Space Center.

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