A 3D-Printed House Makes Its Debut at SXSW and Tests a New Vision for Home Building

In anticipation of SXSW, Austin’s annual music and film festival that’s returning after a two-year hiatus, 3D-printing company Icon has unveiled their latest home design. With its flat roof, wooden beams exposed, and a structure made of glass, a printed concrete material, and more wood, it’s reminiscent of a ranch home you might find in Texas, but with a modernist bent.

​​"The house is all about responding to the climate gracefully, and midcentury ranch houses also happen to do that very well," says Lewis McNeel, associate partner at Lake|Flato Architects, the Texas firm that designed House Zero with Icon. McNeel calls attention to the home’s deep overhangs that shield the interiors from the harsh Texas sun and rain that can blow sideways. Clerestory windows bring in just the right amount of natural light, he says, reducing the need for electric lighting.

Situated in East Austin, just minutes from downtown, the three-bed, two-and-a-half-bath design and an accompanying accessory dwelling unit mark the beginning of Icon’s Exploration Series, which aims to push the boundaries of 3D-printed home design even further.

"The homes we’re building are extremely energy efficient," attests Melodie Yashar, the director of building design and performance at Icon. The printed wall assemblies—the gray, textured part of House Zero’s structure—are made by a robotic arm that lays a proprietary concrete material, which is insulated and reinforced with steel. Icon says the material makes for a more resilient structure, and, as one continuous, unbroken thermal barrier, reduces the energy consumption of the home. The design also requires less energy and resources to build.

"Because we are using the printer, we’re able to cut down on the number of trades and folks involved," says Yashar. Three or four people can manage a print job, and the printer is operated using a mobile app.