Hotelier Liz Lambert and ICON, a leading construction 3D printing company, have begun building the first 3D printed hotel and residences in Marfa, Texas. Designed by the BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, the relocation, and expansion of El Cosmico to a 60+ acre property will showcase entirely new architectural approaches made possible by large-scale 3D printing including domes, arches, vaults, and parabolic forms. The development will feature El Cosmico guest accommodations, new hospitality programming (including a pool, bathhouse, and restaurant), and private residences.
“I am so happy about breaking ground at the new El Cosmico site. It’s the realization of a longtime dream of mine. It’s also very meaningful to me in that we will be able to do more of what we’ve done in the community of Marfa over the past 12 years – create economic opportunity, add high-quality jobs, and contribute to the cultural fabric of Marfa. I’ve been coming to Marfa since I was a kid spending summers at my family’s ranch, and I’m proud and honored to be a part of this community. Marfa is a magical place,” said Liz Lambert, Creator of El Cosmico.
The design for the expansion and re-imagination of the El Cosmico hotel and housing is inspired by the unique connection between the high desert landscape and cosmic organizations. The new hotel and homes feature organic curves and domes – a primordial architectural language that can only be achieved with 3D printing. The project provides a natural continuation of unique experiences – building on El Cosmico’s legacy at the intersection of art, nature, and hospitality in Marfa.
“Our design for the new El Cosmico is a conversation between El Cosmico’s past and future. By testing the geometric boundaries of ICON’s 3D printed construction, we have imagined fluid, curvilinear structures that enjoy the freedom of form in the empty desert. By using the sand, soils, and colors of the terroir as our print medium, the circular forms seem to emerge from the very land on which they stand. We are honored to join Liz Lambert in reimagining desert luxury as something distilled to its purest form: raw, honest, and in harmony with the surrounding environment,” said Bjarke Ingels, Founder and Creative Director of BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.
The collection of the BIG-designed three and four-bedroom ‘Sunday Homes’ feature expansive views of the Davis Mountains, and range from 2,000 square feet to 2,500 square feet, on 1+ acre lots. Pricing for the Sunday Homes starts at $2.29M, and they are listed with Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty. The first model home is expected to be completed by the end of this year with additional units to follow.
“Part of the reason we’ve worked so hard at ICON to create these technologies is to give high-vision people like Liz and Bjarke the ability to materialize their dreams in the real world,” said Jason Ballard, Co-founder and CEO of ICON. “West Texas is one of the most meaningful places on Earth to me and my family. To contribute in such a positive way to Marfa hits on a deeply personal level. The breadth of the project, from hospitality and elevated housing to affordable housing, is astounding. This will be the most ambitious architecture that we have yet undertaken.”
Another facet of the project will be to build additional 3D printed affordable housing units in Marfa to serve the evolving needs of the town where the existing El Cosmico now sits. The designs for these homes will be selected from ICON’s Initiative 99 global architecture competition – where more than 60 countries were represented in the contest submissions.
The original El Cosmico, currently a 21-acre campground hotel in Marfa, will remain open into 2025. The new development is expected to be completed in 2026.
