I Stayed in Icon’s New Luxury 3D Printed Home in Austin, Texas
The walls of the main home and its accessory dwelling unit were printed at the same time in eight days despite weather and hardware issues.
Brittany Chang/Insider
The team then spent five additional months finishing the rest of the home, like window installation, wiring, and plumbing.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And when it was completed, Icon invited me to spend a night in the new three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom build …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… and the unique construction tech, curved concrete walls, and high-end finishes made House Zero one of the most uniquely designed homes I’ve ever stayed at.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Spending a night in House Zero made me realize that 3D printing homes can be a strategic and functional construction method while still producing beautiful yet comfortable homes.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Many 3D printing enthusiasts view the tech as a path toward alleviating our ongoing housing shortage and affordability crisis.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Like House Zero, a home that could take about a year to build “traditionally” can be printed and completed in just several months …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… enabling home builders to construct housing cheaper, faster, and more sustainably by using fewer materials and less physical labor.
Brittany Chang/Insider
The technology might be being heralded as a way to build more affordable homes quicker, but House Zero is far from an example of a budget-friendly home.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Source: Insider, Insider
It was meant to flex the range and practicality of Icon’s printing technology, Jason Ballard, Icon’s cofounder and CEO, told Insider in an interview.
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And like all stereotypical model homes, House Zero is filled with high-end furniture and finishes that can woo even the most discerning visitors.
Brittany Chang/Insider
The rounded walls caught my attention as I drove by the Austin, Texas home for the first time …
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A building with this much exposed concrete is often associated with brutalist architecture, but nothing about House Zero screamed “brutalism” to me.
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The layered lavacrete — Icon’s in-house “high strength” concrete — combined with the curved wall design made House Zero look organic and free-flowing.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Up until this build I had never seen a layered sloping wall before. And now, I want something similar in my future home.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And it’s not just for aesthetic reasons. The shape strengthens the home’s structure while serving as a natural open-aired separation of space.
Brittany Chang/Insider
“We’re not only going to invent robots, we’re also going to invent architecture,” Ballard said. “And it’s not clear that robotics companies have any business inventing architecture.”
Brittany Chang/Insider
Curvature aside, the striking layered walls — which were strengthened with steel and insulation — were unlike anything I had seen inside a home before.
Brittany Chang/Insider
There was no need for art on the walls — the grey layers naturally became a focal point of the home’s rooms …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… while the wooden walls and accents kept the space from appearing too cold and drab.
Brittany Chang/Insider
The first room off the entryway is the open-concept kitchen, living room, and dining room.
Brittany Chang/Insider
