The tiny house itself includes a bedroom, bathroom, living area, and kitchen. The house is made of concrete and wood and is a ‘proof-of-concept’ to show how 3-D printing can address global housing issues.

The Chicon House, in its current use, is an office. However, the home does have a building permit to ensure that it is suitable for human living.

A New Opportunity in Housing

Among a growing demand for affordable, resilient housing in the United States, 3-D printing provides a new opportunity for housing. 3-D printing allows the ability to decrease traditional construction costs by 30% to 50% in a time where construction costs are continuing to rise. 3-D printing can dramatically reduce the waste associated with construction, allowing the construction process to be nearly zero-waste.

Another benefit to 3-D printing is the ability to print on-site, which reduces the emissions associated with the transportation of building materials. In addition, ICON shares that its printer could create a 2,000 square foot home in about three days showing the ability to reduce construction time remarkably.

Homes can be printed using a variety of materials. The Chicon House was printed with concrete and is, therefore, more resilient to natural disasters compared to traditional stick-built homes. Icon’s 3-D printer is entirely automated and requires less manual labor than a conventional home build. In addition, the 3-D printer automatically adjusts to local weather conditions, which allows it to work under unpredictable constraints like limited potable water or power.

In terms of energy efficiency, 3-D printing with concrete provides an unbroken thermal mass, subsequently reducing the energy needed to heat and cool the home.

Aesthetically-speaking, it is just as simple to print a home full of curves and slopes as it is to print a house full of straight lines. This ability tells us that the future of 3-D printing homes may encompass a broader design palette than is typically seen in typical home construction.

Can I Print My Own Home? 

Short answer? Yes!

When 3-D printers first became mainstream, we were told that you could print anything with them. Yet, printing an entire house is a significant feat, so it has only recently accomplished. The 3-D printed Austin tiny house would not have been possible if it weren’t for the new 3-D printer that was developed by ICON and New Story.

Following the success of the Austin tiny home, ICON and New Story have begun marketing to homeowners who are interested in printing their own homes. Their 3-D printer can print a house up to 2,000 square feet, which is slightly smaller than the average newly-constructed home in America.

This innovative 3-D printer can print at night, in various weather conditions, and within mere days. The 3-D printer uses a concrete-like material called lavacrete. Lavacrete has a compressive strength of 6,000 psi, which is stronger than conventional building materials.

So, not only can a 3-D-printed home be resilient to natural disasters, but it is more affordable and energy-efficient. You can save 30% - 50% in construction costs, and feel less guilty since 3-D printing is virtually zero-waste. And, best of all, you can have a home in just a few days!

Austin’s Chicon House is an example of how 3-D printing can potentially change the housing industry. While there is much more work to be done to make this a standard in construction, it is exciting to think of the benefits 3-D printing can provide: more affordable, resilient housing that is environmentally responsible.