Architecture

World's largest 3D-printed neighborhood nears completion in USA

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Wolf Ranch consists of 100 cutting-edge 3D-printed homes
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Wolf Ranch consists of 100 cutting-edge 3D-printed homes
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Wolf Ranch's houses measure 1,500 - 2,100 sq ft (roughly 140 - 195 sq m), and are arranged on one floor
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Wolf Ranch is located in Georgetown, near Austin, Texas
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Wolf Ranch's homes are topped by solar panels, reducing their draw on the power grid
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Icon's 3D printer, the Vulcan, measures 46.6 ft (14.2 m) x 15.6 ft (4.75 m)
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The Vulcan extrudes a proprietary cement-like mixture out of a nozzle in layers to build up the basic shell of each home
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An architectural revolution is quietly taking place in the American suburbs. In Texas, a collection of high-tech robotic builders have been busily constructing the largest 3D-printed neighborhood in the world and it's now nearing completion.

Named Wolf Ranch, the project is located near Austin and is spearheaded by leading 3D-printing firm Icon, with construction firm Lennar, plus high-profile studio Bjarke Ingels Group co-designing. It consists of 100 residences.

The houses are constructed using Icon's Vulcan printer model. It measures 46.6 ft (14.2 m) x 15.6 ft (4.75 m) and can build a house measuring 3,000 sq ft (278 sq m) with minimal human supervision and without needing to be moved around. The giant robotic printer extrudes a proprietary cement-like mixture out of a nozzle in layers, following a blueprint, and builds up the basic shell of the home.

Once the printing process is finished and the basic structure of a house is complete, human builders then take over and finish off the windows, doors, roof and anything else required to turn it into a modern home.

Icon's 3D printer, the Vulcan, measures 46.6 ft (14.2 m) x 15.6 ft (4.75 m)
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The houses themselves are very high-end. They measure 1,500 - 2,100 sq ft (roughly 140 - 195 sq m), and are arranged all on one floor, with eight different floorplans and either three/four bedrooms and two/three bathrooms available.

The interiors look light-filled and spacious inside, with generous glazing and a large open living area and kitchen. They reduce their grid-based energy usage with a solar panel system and also boast some smart home tech, including a Ring Video Doorbell, Wi-Fi-operated lock, and a smart thermostat.

Homeowners have been moving into their new homes for months and to date Icon has printed 98 of the 100 of the homes' wall systems, with work ongoing to finish them completely in the coming months. A company rep told us that pricing starts at US$400,000.

Wolf Ranch is located in Georgetown, near Austin, Texas
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Elsewhere in Texas, Icon is also producing other 3D-printed architecture projects, including the Wimberly Springs development and El Cosmico campground hotel.

Source: Icon

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10 comments
Techutante
That would be pretty cool if they could do it for cheaper. But at that price in Texas... I feel like most of the savings just goes into the pockets of the company and the consumer pays more than full price for a house. The median house price in Austin is 530k. They pay less for laborers and make more money. Maybe if the 450k includes the cost of the solar panel, probably around 10k that's an added bonus. I can see though from the pictures that not everyone sprung for that package.
Arandor
To me, that is dystopian. And it would still be dystopian if traditional home-building methods were used. That they are 3D printed just makes it 21st century dystopian.
kakarot98
I completely agree with Techutante; its pretty crappy that the builder likely saved a boat load of money and just greedily pocketed most of it, as opposed to passing on the savings to the consumer, particularly given the housing crisis in the country... sad, but I guess the greedy (such as Lennar) are gonna horde... Hopefully a bit more of an altruistic competitor will enter the market and upset the pricing structure. May just take some time...
Smokey_Bear
Icon is the 3D home printing goat. I love their new Phoenix printer, and I'm hoping it will make their homes get a large reduction in price.
I like how you can have a more organic home, instead of a boring square or rectangle. I hope to live in one someday...might take a couple decades, but someday.
David Priol
Isn't this machine Australian owned and developed? Doesn't seem to say.
Alan
Can they print a multistory house or apartment building?
paleochocolate
What an atrocious layout. I don't see any grocery/ bakery in walking distance.
cyberinterior
Houses design is too dreary for such high price. There is not enough space around the houses, stuffy. The appearance is as the day before yesterday. The general impression of surrounding and area layout is poor.
Alan
paleochocolate wrote "What an atrocious layout. I don't see any grocery/ bakery in walking distance."
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Was this sarcasm? This is what suburbia looks like. You drive to the stores in a mall somewhere.
ljaques
Wow, they look like they have a whole 5 feet between the houses, less overhang. How much do you love your neighbor?
And I'm still not seeing the super reduced pricing on any 3DP home anyone has shown yet. Not holding my breath.