Could 3D printing be one of the answers to green the construction sector and reduce its environmental impact? Here is an example with the El Cosmico hotel, renovated with 3D printing technology, which made it possible to respect energy-efficient constraints and reduce the financial cost of this exceptional architectural ensemble.
A famous architectural firm, partner of NASA to design shelters planned on the Moon and Mars, is working on the construction of the very first hotel printed in three dimensions. We explain to you why this is a project for the future.
An infinity pool, a spa with hammam, accommodation with two to four bedrooms, a terrace to relax… This could be a hotel like any other, with the difference that its architecture was designed using printing technology. in three dimensions. Head to Texas, in the United States, to discover this extraordinary project.
In the windswept desert of Marfa, famed architectural firm Icon, which works alongside NASA to develop 3D-printed shelters for use on the Moon and Mars, has been renovating a small hotel, baptized El Cosmico, to transform it into an establishment fully anchored in its desert environment.
Dwellings with rounded shapes, arches and parabolic shapes, the ocher-colored buildings of the new hotel must give the impression that they have come straight out of this arid land. This is precisely one of the reasons why three-dimensional printing is used. ” The new hotel and homes feature organic curves and domes, an overarching architectural language that can only be achieved through 3D printing. Icon’s technology excels in creating soft shapes and curved surfaces, bringing this design vision to life. “explains the architectural firm.
3D for speed of execution, lower cost and more durable constructions
3D printing is not only the promise of aesthetics. Previously, the small hotel only extended over eight hectares. Eventually, the resort will have 24. Bookings will open this summer while the first guests will be able to stay as early as next year. In short, it will be understood: the speed of execution of this renovation is an asset.
3D printing technology allows this speed. This advantage had been underlined by the Nantes project of BatiPrint3D which had succeeded in setting up a new house of 95 m2 in just 54 hours. Requiring less energy and manpower, this technique also lowers the cost of construction. Moreover, the Icon architectural firm, which has made construction by 3D printing its specialty, had manufactured housing for the homeless, settled in Texas.
3D finally offers a more environmentally acceptable construction solution. Like the raw earth used for the renovation of the El Cosmico hotel, it is more sustainable materials that are used during printing. We also use the necessary quantity of materials to print what is needed, which reduces the proportion of waste compared to a concrete construction.
These many advantages explain why 3D printing in the construction sector has a bright future. According to a report by the analyst firm Grand View Research, its annual growth is estimated at 101.9% between 2023 and 2030.