Nestled in the desert city of Marfa, El Cosmico hotel and campground is the home of a one-of-a-kind expansion merging innovative 3D-printing technology with the unique landscape of West Texas. In collaboration with Texas-based 3D printing company ICON and Denmark-based architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group, El Cosmico’s owner, Liz Lambert, is leading a project that will create the world’s first 3D-printed hotel rooms. This ambitious project represents a major milestone in sustainable, cost-effective hospitality design for meeting planners looking to create sustainably focused gatherings.
El Cosmico’s 3D-printed project will create 43 hotel units and 18 residential homes across a 40-acre plot. Of course, this isn’t the kind of 3D printer you can fit on your dining table. ICON’s Vulcan printer—a 46.5-foot machine standing over 15 feet tall and weighing 4.75 tons—will print each unit using Lavacrete, a specialized cement-based material known for its durability and heat resistance, ideal for desert conditions. The project’s single-story units will feature 12-foot walls, with the first two spaces currently under construction: a single-room hotel unit and a three-bedroom residence.
By using 3D printing, Lambert and her team can incorporate intricate designs and architectural details like curved walls and unique forms that mimic the surrounding desert landscape that might typically be too costly or complex to create at scale with traditional methods. When completed in 2026, the new rooms are expected to range from $200 to $450 per night.
