Table of Contents
The walls of the main home and its accessory dwelling unit were printed at the same time in eight days despite weather and hardware issues.
Brittany Chang/Insider
The team then spent five additional months finishing the rest of the home, like window installation, wiring, and plumbing.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And when it was completed, Icon invited me to spend a night in the new three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom build …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… and the unique construction tech, curved concrete walls, and high-end finishes made House Zero one of the most uniquely designed homes I’ve ever stayed at.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Spending a night in House Zero made me realize that 3D printing homes can be a strategic and functional construction method while still producing beautiful yet comfortable homes.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Many 3D printing enthusiasts view the tech as a path toward alleviating our ongoing housing shortage and affordability crisis.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Like House Zero, a home that could take about a year to build “traditionally” can be printed and completed in just several months …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… enabling home builders to construct housing cheaper, faster, and more sustainably by using fewer materials and less physical labor.
Brittany Chang/Insider
The technology might be being heralded as a way to build more affordable homes quicker, but House Zero is far from an example of a budget-friendly home.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Source: Insider, Insider
It was meant to flex the range and practicality of Icon’s printing technology, Jason Ballard, Icon’s cofounder and CEO, told Insider in an interview.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And like all stereotypical model homes, House Zero is filled with high-end furniture and finishes that can woo even the most discerning visitors.
Brittany Chang/Insider
The rounded walls caught my attention as I drove by the Austin, Texas home for the first time …
Brittany Chang/Insider
A building with this much exposed concrete is often associated with brutalist architecture, but nothing about House Zero screamed “brutalism” to me.
Brittany Chang/
The layered lavacrete — Icon’s in-house “high strength” concrete — combined with the curved wall design made House Zero look organic and free-flowing.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Up until this build I had never seen a layered sloping wall before. And now, I want something similar in my future home.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And it’s not just for aesthetic reasons. The shape strengthens the home’s structure while serving as a natural open-aired separation of space.
Brittany Chang/Insider
“We’re not only going to invent robots, we’re also going to invent architecture,” Ballard said. “And it’s not clear that robotics companies have any business inventing architecture.”
Brittany Chang/Insider
Curvature aside, the striking layered walls — which were strengthened with steel and insulation — were unlike anything I had seen inside a home before.
Brittany Chang/Insider
There was no need for art on the walls — the grey layers naturally became a focal point of the home’s rooms …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… while the wooden walls and accents kept the space from appearing too cold and drab.
Brittany Chang/Insider
The first room off the entryway is the open-concept kitchen, living room, and dining room.
Brittany Chang/Insider