3D-Printed House in Austin, Texas
Last Updated: Mar 10, 2025East Austin is home to the nation’s first fully-permitted 3-D printed home: The Chicon House. In March of 2018, this 350 square foot home was created in less than 48 hours, costing about $10,000 to print. In contrast, the average single-family home in the United States takes seven months to complete. This project illustrated how 3-D printing could be one solution to the ever-rising issue of affordable housing.
Two groups collaborated to make this tiny home a reality. ICON, an Austin-based construction technologies company dedicated to revolutionizing homebuilding, and New Story, a non-profit that focuses on providing affordable housing internationally, partnered on this project. Their teams consist of industry thought-leaders, including engineers, environmentalists, and designers.
Table of Contents
- A New Opportunity in Housing
- Can I Print My Own Home?
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.
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.
Maria Saxton
Located in Roanoke, Virginia, Maria Saxton holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Design and Planning from Virginia Tech. She works as an Environmental Planner and Housing Researcher for a local firm specializing in Community Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Historic Preservation. Her dissertation explored the environmental impacts of small-scale homes. She serves as a volunteer board member for the Tiny Home Industry Association.
