A community of 3D-printed homes in Austin, Texas is now available with units starting at $745,000 - see what it's like inside https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/a-community-of-3d-printed-homes-in-austin-texas-is-now-available-with-units-starting-at-745000-see-what-itaposs-like-inside/slidelist/86140541.cms 2021-09-12T19:08:46+05:30 2021-09-12T18:06:16+05:30 A community of 3D-printed homes in Austin, Texas is now available with units starting at $745,000 - see what it's like inside Sep 12, 2021, 19:08 IST
The 3D printed homes in Austin, Texas.Regan Morton Photography
A development of 3D-printed homes in Austin, Texas has been completed. The East 17th Street Residences includes four homes that range from two to four bedrooms. Two of the four homes are still available starting at $745,000.
The 3D printed homes in Austin, Texas.
Regan Morton Photography
A development of 3D-printed homes was recently completed in one of the country's hottest housing markets: Austin, Texas. A development of 3D-printed homes was recently completed in one of the country's hottest housing markets: Austin, Texas.
The 3D printed homes in Austin, Texas.
Regan Morton Photography
And you could move right in as long as you have at least $745,000 to spare. And you could move right in as long as you have at least $745,000 to spare.
A home being printed.
Regan Morton Photography
The "East 17th Street Residences" was developed by 3Strands, printed by Austin-based 3D printing construction company Icon, and designed by Logan Architecture. The "East 17th Street Residences" was developed by 3Strands, printed by Austin-based 3D printing construction company Icon, and designed by Logan Architecture.
A 3D printed home in Austin, Texas.
Regan Morton Photography
This is the second development Icon has printed in Austin, but this new community is the company's first "first mainstream housing project," according to 3Strands. Source: 3Strands
The kitchen inside one of the homes.
Regan Morton Photography
Icon's previous development was the "Community First! Village," a collection of affordable homes for unhoused people. Source: Insider
The 3D printed homes in Austin, Texas.
Regan Morton Photography
Developing in Austin, Texas was strategic: "It's hard not to be drawn to what is happening in Austin right now," Gary O'Dell, CEO of 3Strands, told Insider in an email interview in May before the development was completed. Developing in Austin, Texas was strategic: "It's hard not to be drawn to what is happening in Austin right now," Gary O'Dell, CEO of 3Strands, told Insider in an email interview in May before the development was completed.
A bedroom inside one of the homes.
Regan Morton Photography
Elon Musk recently predicted that the city will be "the biggest boomtown that America has seen in 50 years." Source: Insider
The bathroom inside one of the homes.
Regan Morton Photography
And 3Strands already owned the site, which simplified the zoning and permitting process, O'Dell said. And 3Strands already owned the site, which simplified the zoning and permitting process, O'Dell said.
The living room inside one of the homes.
Regan Morton Photography
Now let's take a look around inside. Now let's take a look around inside.
The kitchen inside one of the homes.
Regan Morton Photography
The East 17th Street Residence includes four homes that span 900 square feet to 2,000 square feet. The East 17th Street Residence includes four homes that span 900 square feet to 2,000 square feet.
A bedroom inside one of the 3D printed homes.
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Each home has between two to four bedrooms ... Each home has between two to four bedrooms ...
An office inside one of the 3D printed homes.
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… but some of the bedrooms could be easily converted into work-from-home offices. … but some of the bedrooms could be easily converted into work-from-home offices.
The living room and kitchen inside one of the 3D printed homes.
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Each home has the typical kitchen and living rooms … Source: East 17th Street Residences
The living room inside one of the 3D printed homes.
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… while some of the larger units have dining and laundry rooms as well. … while some of the larger units have dining and laundry rooms as well.
The 3D printed homes in Austin, Texas.
Regan Morton Photography
The units also have porches, front yards, and parking spaces ... The units also have porches, front yards, and parking spaces ...
The kitchen inside one of the homes.
Regan Morton Photography
… as well as amenities like a dishwasher, refrigerator, and tankless water heater. … as well as amenities like a dishwasher, refrigerator, and tankless water heater.
The kitchen inside one of the 3D printed homes.
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Overall, the interior has a modern flare with an open concept and a minimalist appeal. Overall, the interior has a modern flare with an open concept and a minimalist appeal.
The 3D printed homes in Austin, Texas.
Regan Morton Photography
You might have noticed that the homes look no different than your typical traditionally constructed home. You might have noticed that the homes look no different than your typical traditionally constructed home.
A home being printed.
Regan Morton Photography
Well, using a 3D printer to build houses is more than just a unique, tech-forward way to construct homes. Well, using a 3D printer to build houses is more than just a unique, tech-forward way to construct homes.
The 3D printed homes in Austin, Texas.
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According to O'Dell, 3D printing can help alleviate the housing shortage, a belief other 3D printing companies hold as well. Source: Icon , Insider
The 3D printed homes in Austin, Texas.
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"There is an extreme lack of housing (both in Austin and globally) that has left us with problems around supply, sustainability, resiliency, affordability, and design options," Jason Ballard, CEO and co-founder of Icon, told Insider in an email interview in May. "There is an extreme lack of housing (both in Austin and globally) that has left us with problems around supply, sustainability, resiliency, affordability, and design options," Jason Ballard, CEO and co-founder of Icon, told Insider in an email interview in May.
The 3D printer.
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"With ICON's 3D printing technology, we anticipate more high-velocity progress in the years ahead to help bring housing and construction into the modern world," Ballard continued. "With ICON's 3D printing technology, we anticipate more high-velocity progress in the years ahead to help bring housing and construction into the modern world," Ballard continued.
The bedroom inside one of the 3D printed homes.
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Ballard believes 3D printing is the "toolkit of the builder of the future," as it decreases the cost, waste, manual labor, and time it takes to build a home. Ballard believes 3D printing is the "toolkit of the builder of the future," as it decreases the cost, waste, manual labor, and time it takes to build a home.
The 3D printed homes being constructed in Austin, Texas.
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The first floor of the community's homes were all printed using Icon's printing and construction system Vulcan. The first floor of the community's homes were all printed using Icon's printing and construction system Vulcan.
The 3D printer.
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The Vulcan then prints out "lavacrete," Icon's in-house "high strength" concrete, shown below as it prints the walls of a home. Source: Icon
The 3D printed homes in Austin, Texas.
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This allows the homes to better tolerate natural disasters, including fires and flooding, according to its maker. This allows the homes to better tolerate natural disasters, including fires and flooding, according to its maker.
A home being printed.
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The second floor was then completed with "conventional" materials, according to Ballard. The second floor was then completed with "conventional" materials, according to Ballard.
A bathroom inside one of the 3D printed homes.
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Since the homes' debut, 3Strands has been "overwhelmed" with interest from buyers, O'Dell said in a press release. Since the homes' debut, 3Strands has been "overwhelmed" with interest from buyers, O'Dell said in a press release.
The 3D printed homes in Austin, Texas.
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Of the four homes, one already went under contract in March shortly after it was listed. Of the four homes, one already went under contract in March shortly after it was listed.
The bathroom inside one of the 3D printed homes.
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3Strands plans to keep another one of the homes, according to O'Dell. 3Strands plans to keep another one of the homes, according to O'Dell.
The 3D printer.
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The final two have since been listed by 3Strands and brokerage company Den Property Group. The final two have since been listed by 3Strands and brokerage company Den Property Group.
A 3D printed homes in Austin, Texas.
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One of the units (B1) has been listed for $745,000, while the other (B3) is up for $795,000. Source: Den Property Group Den Property Group
The 3D printed homes in Austin, Texas.
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According to O'Dell, 3Strands and Den priced the homes to match the median home price around the neighborhood. According to O'Dell, 3Strands and Den priced the homes to match the median home price around the neighborhood.
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