I Stayed in Icon’s New Luxury 3D Printed Home in Austin, Texas
By Aaron M. Davis 3 years agoTable of Contents
ToggleThe 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
Icon began printing House Zero in May 2021 and the rest of the home — like window installation, wiring, and plumbing — was completed in February 2022.
Brittany Chang/Insider
When the home was completed, Icon invited me to spend a night in the new three-bedroom, 2-½ bathroom build …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… and the unique construction tech, curved concrete walls, and high-end finishes made House Zero one of the most interestingly designed homes in which I’ve stayed.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Spending a night in House Zero made me realize 3D printing homes could 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 housing shortages and improving affordability.
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 labor.
Brittany Chang/Insider
But while the technology may be heralded as a way to build more-affordable homes quicker, House Zero is far from an example of a budget-friendly home.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Source: Insider, Insider
The house — designed with the help of Lake Flato Architects — was styled to be a show home for Icon: a place to take investors, the public, and journalists.
Brittany Chang/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.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And like all stereotypical model homes, House Zero is filled with high-end furniture and finishes meant to 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 …
Brittany Chang/Insider
A building with this much exposed concrete is often associated with brutalist architecture, but nothing about House Zero screamed “brutalism” to me.
Brittany Chang/
Icon’s in-house “high strength” concrete combined with the curved wall design made House Zero look organic and free-flowing.
Brittany Chang/Insider
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-air 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.
Brittany Chang/Insider
There was no need for art on the walls — the gray 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