ICON and BIG are 3D printing this 'el cosmico' hotel and campsite across marfa desert

nomadic campground sees a radical expansion

Liz Lambert, founder of Marfa’s bohemian hotel brand El Cosmico, has teamed up with ICON and Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) to reimagine the future of luxury camping in the Texas desert. ICON, known for pioneering large-scale 3D printing, brings its cutting-edge technology to the project, creating a unique fusion of art, hospitality, and advanced construction methods. This vision aligns with the off-grid, nomadic spirit of El Cosmico, currently a 21-acre desert campground comprised of tents, yurts, teepees, and trailers.

The ambitious project, now under construction, involves the relocation and expansion of El Cosmico to a 60+ acre plot, allowing for a radically new architectural approach enabled by large-scale 3D printing. ICON’s innovative technology will bring sculptural forms — domes, arches, vaults, and parabolic shapes — to life, offering guest accommodations that revolve around communal spaces such as a pool, spa, and restaurant. The fluid designs echo the cosmic and desert landscapes, continuing the legacy of blending art, nature, and hospitality.

images courtesy ICON

designed by big, 3d-printed by icon

The reimagined hotel and residences at El Cosmico will feature organic curves that evoke a ‘primordial architectural language’ made possible through ICON‘s large-scale 3D printing technology. Lambert adds: ‘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 futuristic innovation.’

Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), a collection of two, three and four bedroom ‘Sunday Homes,’ which will open out toward expansive views of the Davis Mountains and will have access to El Cosmico’s communal amenities. The dwellings will be available for sale and will range from 2,000 to 2,500 square feet.  

The first model home is set to be completed by the end of the year, with other units to follow. Lambert’s long-standing vision of El Cosmico as a hub for creative culture and desert serenity is finally becoming a reality. The project will continue to evolve, with the original campground remaining open until 2025 and the new development expected to be completed by 2026.

otherworldly dwellings will huddle together beneath the chihuahuan desert sky

icon’s robotic construction underway

Construction is already underway, marking the realization of a long-held dream for Lambert. ‘I am so happy about breaking ground at the new El Cosmico site. It’s the realization of a longtime dream of mine. It’s also very meaningful to me in that we will be able to do more of what we’ve done in the community of Marfa over the past 12 years—create economic opportunity, add high-quality jobs, and contribute to the cultural fabric of Marfa,’ said Lambert. ‘Marfa is a magical place.’

ICON’s CEO, Jason Ballard, highlights the project’s significance: ‘Part of the reason we’ve worked so hard at ICON to create these technologies is to give high-vision people like Liz and Bjarke the ability to materialize their dreams in the real world. West Texas is one of the most meaningful places on Earth to me and my family. To contribute in such a positive way to Marfa hits on a deeply personal level.’

The scale of the development extends beyond luxury hospitality to include affordable housing. Additional 3D-printed homes, selected from ICON’s Initiative 99 global architecture competition (see more here), will be built to meet Marfa’s evolving housing needs.

soft, organic forms are enabled by ICON’s large-scale 3D-printing methods

continuing the legacy of el cosmico

The expansion and re-imagination of El Cosmico is informed by the ‘unique connection between the high desert landscape and cosmic organizations.’ Meanwhile, the architectural language of soft curves and domes are at once ‘primordial’ and forward-thinking — a design vision which is enabled by ICON’s large-scale 3D-printing technology. Providing a ‘natural continuation of unique experiences,’ the project expands on El Cosmico’s legacy of blending art, nature and hospitality in Marfa.

‘Our design for the new El Cosmico is a conversation between its past and future,’ explains Bjarke Ingels, founder and creative director of BIG. ‘By testing the geometric boundaries of ICON’s 3D-printed construction, we have imagined fluid, curvilinear structures that enjoy the freedom of form in the empty desert. By using the sand, soils, and colors of the terroir as our print medium, the circular forms seem to emerge from the very land on which they stand.’

Bjarke Ingels describes the design as a dialogue between El Cosmico’s past and future

‘The truly unique and divergent architectures made possible by 3D printing are really just beginning,’ said Jason Ballard, co-founder and CEO of ICON. ‘One of the great joys of ICON is putting our technology into the hands of great creatives and seeing what possibilities emerge. The collaboration with Liz and Bjarke is a total dream, and it’s a tremendous honor for us to join them at the forefront of design and architecture. Liz is truly the Queen of Cool and one of the national treasures of Texas. It is incredible to help her cosmic imaginings become earthly reality.’

the BIG-designed Sunday Homes will range from 2,000 to 2,500 square feet

a ‘taste of el cosmico’ in austin

To celebrate the unveiling of El Cosmico’s expansion, the group partnered with The Long Center for the Performing Arts, a community gathering place, to bring a taste of El Cosmico to Austin, Texas. The teaser project brought the first 3D-printed performance pavilion to the city, reflecting the reimagined El Cosmico’s architectural design themes of ‘cosmic organizations, perfect geometries, and organic forms.’ The group noted that the design of the pavilion ‘combines and extends some of these themes into a single, sculptural piece that serves as a landmark and a gathering space for culture, community, and the city in the heart of downtown Austin.’ The performance pavilion opened on March 15th, 2023 in time for the city’s South by Southwest (SXSW) festival.

the new El Cosmico development is set for completion in 2026

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a 3D-printed performance pavilion brought a ‘taste of El Cosmico’ to Austin during SXSW 2023

project info:

project title: El Cosmico expansion

architecture: ICON, Bjarke Ingles Group / BIG

location: Marfa & Austin, Texas

client: El Cosmico

status: under construction