Austin’s New Iconic Home
Solving the Affordable Housing Crisis through 3D Printing
Words by Jessi Devenyns Photos by Icon
What began as a science experiment in the backyard of an East Austin home has transformed into a well-funded force to change the world.
Austin-based startup ICON describes themselves as “the future of human shelter,” a role they embody through 3D home printing technology. Last year, during South by Southwest (SXSW), ICON debuted the world’s first up-to-code robotically-printed home. Although the structure’s skin appears as a layered birthday cake, its design has made radical contribution to the home building industry.
At 350 square feet, this small East Austin abode was constructed in 48 hours for the jaw-dropping cost of $10,000. While it would be easy to assume that the home cost is simply missing a few digits, the reality is the construction costs are affordable for a reason. Jason Ballard, one of ICON’s three founders, says that it all began with watching housing prices soar in Austin. “Surely there is a better way to build homes that is more affordable, less wasteful, and more energy efficient than conventional building methods,” he remembers thinking.
As a result of his musings, ICON invented the Vulcan printer: the device that pumps out concrete icing that becomes the home’s walls which provides affordable, durable, and sustainable living. A year after its debut, the company took another step toward affordable construction when they unveiled their Vulcan II printer, which can print a 2,000 square-foot home at 2.5 times the speed of the Vulcan I. Of course, like the original printer, ICON’s 3D homes will still require dressings: a roof, windows, and doors to be installed in a conventional manner.
Still, local businesses are already seeing the possibilities. Austin-based development company, Cielo Property Group promptly purchased a Vulcan II with the aim of providing more affordable housing within city limits this year, particularly in East Austin. “Last year we made a big commitment to help provide more permanent housing for people living on Austin’s streets or in shelters,” says Cielo Property Group co-founder Bobby Dillard. “[ICON’s printer] just seemed like a great opportunity to commission a printer specifically to create affordable housing here in our community.”
In addition to shaving off thousands of dollars in construction costs, ICON’s 3D technology also produces significantly less waste than a traditional construction site, offers better insulation for homeowners, ensures good resiliency to the elements, and gives a sweepingly flexible design palate to architects. Conventional construction, which can generate up to four tons of waste per home, “is slow, fragmented, wasteful, and has poor thermal properties which increase energy use, increase operating costs, and decrease comfort,” Jason goes on. “Also, conventional materials like drywall and particle board are some of the least resilient materials ever invented.” The advantages of print construction coupled with the quantum leap in affordability that this technology allows for means that there might soon be a new meaning to keeping up with the Joneses.
For the time being, there is only a single prototype on the ground, which happens to be in East Austin. Although small, the 100 spiraling layers of concrete cladding crowned by an extended mono-pitched roof that covers a wrap-around porch represents a big idea. “American families should be able to afford a home with an average single income,” insists Jason. “It’s time to decrease and make dignified, affordable homes available to people throughout the world.” By starting with decreasing construction costs by up to 50%, printable homes is an idea that Jason is confident will lay a sturdy foundation from which to architect the end of the global housing affordability crisis.
Contact:
iconbuild.com
@icon3dtech
