3D Printing A Hotel: El Cosmico To Get A Futuristic Makeover

A rendering of El Cosmico's transformation

In an industry making strides toward the future every day, it is truly a moment worth celebrating when a partnership in hospitality aims to bring mind and material-bending innovation of cosmic heights to reality. Revolutionary hotelier and Texas native Liz Lambert and her team have joined forces to transform the nomadic hotel and campground of El Cosmico in Marfa, Texas. She is partnering with BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, a world-renowned architecture firm, and ICON, a leading advanced construction and technology company, which has a contract with NASA to build dwellings on the moon and Mars.

Western Texas meets sustainable 3D printed architecture

The soft curves and forms afforded courtesy of innovative technology by ICON

Breaking ground in 2024, the reimagined El Cosmico will sit in an area of more than 60 acres and have architecture made possible thanks to 3D printing technology — which will integrate natural construction with sustainability and efficiency. In addition to El Cosmico guest units, there will be new hospitality programming, a pool, spa, and shared communal facilities, with an opportunity to explore the potential of printing affordable housing in the area. This future-forward development will be the first 3D printed hotel.

While experiencing El Cosmico in all its futurist glory will take a couple of years, the developers are offering a first glimpse in Austin, Texas, through a performance pavilion — 3D printed and first of its kind — at The Long Center.

Check out Jessica Fernandez’s review of El Cosmico, and our Insider Interview with Liz Lambert

Have you signed up for our monthly newsletter yet? Never spammy, always bringing you the best and coolest hotels in the world and global lifestyle culture, all through the eyes of industry insiders and local tastemakers. Sign up here!