El Cosmico, in Marfa, Texas, is bringing long-anticipated Sunday Homes—among the first-ever 3D printed Hotel—to life using innovative 3D printing, with hospitality innovator Liz Lambert at the helm, teaming up with Icon and BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.

Sunday Homes by El Cosmico in the Marfa landscape PHOTO COURTESY OF EL COSMICO/ICON

THE CLIENT

El Cosmico’s dream clients are adventurers yearning for freedom from their everyday lives. “In keeping with the belief that life should be a balance of adventure and do-nothingness, it offers shelter, occasional entertainment, opportunity for learning/doing/making, and access to the majesty of the high plains desert,” says Liz Lambert, founder. The stars at night are big and bright. Undoubtedly, the land and sky feel never-ending out in the far west. Key to the cosmos, indeed. Sunday Homes have been sought after by those who need an escape the most.

THE PROJECT

Lambert is collaborating with ICON, the leader of advanced construction technologies pioneering large-scale 3D printing and BIG, a worldrenowned architectural firm, to reimagine and rebuild El Cosmico. A more than 60-acre community development, the collection of the BIG-designed two, three and four-bedroom homes feature expansive views of the Davis Mountains and range from 1,200 sq. ft to 2,200 sq. ft. “El Cosmico will continue to celebrate the convergence of creative culture and the minimalistic natural environment of the Marfa landscape,” she says.

THE PRIORITY

“I have had a vision for the evolution of El Cosmico for many years that includes several spaces that add to the experience both for guests and locals—a pool, a hammam, and more space for art and skills-building workshops,” says Lambert. “In collaborating with the revolutionary thinkers at BIG and ICON, not only do I get to fulfill this dream, but we get to do it using this incredible 3D printing technology that marries the oldest principles of raw earth-based building with a futuristic technology that works more quickly, sustainably and efficiently than modern construction.” Their hope by doing this is to explore the possibility of utilizing 3D printing technology to create economical housing in Marfa that adapts to the town’s changing needs as it grows and evolves.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EL COSMICO/ICON

THE DESIGN

The 3D version of El Cosmico will use state-of-the-art “architectural approaches made possible by large-scale 3D printing including domes, arches, vaults and parabolic forms,” Lambert says. “Organic shapes, Euclidian circular geometries and a color palette born from the local terroir make El Cosmico feel as if literally erected from the site it stands on,” embracing the blend of Marfa’s artistic culture and the serene natural surroundings of its landscape. ICON is the same company contracted to build the first dwellings on Mars and the moon, so it’s only fitting their designs are described as futuristic.

THE DETAILS

Innovative development will feature El Cosmico guest units, new hospitality programming including pool, spa and shared communal facilities. Sunday Homes are private residences where owners can rent their homes in addition to El Cosmico’s units. Residence features encompass “natural light from multiple skylights and northern facing windows,” she adds, “and materials tinted to match the natural landscape and organic shapes, which allow the homes to blend into the West Texas landscape.”

“I HAVE HAD A VISION FOR THE EVOLUTION OF EL COSMICO FOR MANY YEARS THAT INCLUDES SEVERAL SPACES THAT ADD TO THE EXPERIENCE BOTH FOR GUESTS AND LOCALS.” -LIZ LAMBERT

An inside look at the Sunday Homes plans for living space. PHOTO COURTESY OF EL COSMICO/ICON

DESIGN DETAILS

DESIGNERS

BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group,
big. dk, and Liz Lambert

ARCHITECT

BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group

BUILDER

ICON, iconbuild.com

RESOURCES

Buyers may purchase furniture from Lambert McGuire Design, Liz Lambert and Larry McGuire’s Austin-based design firm, lambertmcguire.com