Marfa, a small desert city in west Texas is a known arts hub, and the city is getting one more distinction with the upcoming opening of the world’s first 3D-printed hotel. Set to open in 2024, El Cosmico is the name of the first hotel in the world that will be constructed using 3D printing technology.
The remarkable resort is courtesy of a collaboration between hospitality expert Liz Lambert, 3D construction start-up ICON, and Danish design firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). The partnership will be offering relocation and a makeover to the glamping site into a larger, more technologically advanced hotel. Icon’s highly-capable, home-sized 3D printer will be in charge of creating the landmark location.
Lambert is the founder of the campground location El Cosmico in Marfa, which has become a go-to for travelers. The collaboration seeks to recreate the hotel using innovative technology given its undeniable popularity.
designboom mentions;
I have had a vision for the evolution of El Cosmico for many years that includes several spaces that add to the experience both for guests and locals – a pool, a hammam, and more space for art and skills-building workshops. In collaborating with the revolutionary thinkers at BIG and ICON, not only do I get to fulfill this dream, but we get to do it using this incredible 3D printing technology that marries the oldest principles of raw earth-based building with a futuristic technology that works more quickly, sustainably and efficiently than modern construction.
Liz Lambert
Currently as 21 acres, the eccentric spirit of the nomadic El Cosmico features an off-grid campground with a scattering of tents, yurts, teepees, and trailers. The expansion of the property will make it into an expansive 62-acre desert oasis, including a massive infinity pool dotted with cabanas and enthralling guest lodgings. The new hospitality services will also include an open-air spa and a communal space.
The relocated property will feature a collection of radical 3D-printed dwellings, each tiny structure will take sculptural forms including domes, arches, vaults, and parabolic shapes. The hotel will be clad in an earthy color palette to blend in with the desert surroundings.
Designed by BIG, the collection of two, three, and four-bedroom guest units will open out toward glorious views of the Davis Mountains. The development of the resort will break ground in 2024, but the reservations will open in the summer of 2023.
