A neighborhood of 100 3D-printed homes is coming to Austin in 2022

The home of the future might look a lot like toothpaste. 100 3D-printed homes are set to be squeezed out of a nozzle in the Austin area in early 2022, forming the largest 3D-printed neighborhood in the US.

The development, a partnership between the home construction and real estate company Lennar and 3D printing company Icon, will be a test for the technology. If the neighborhood attracts residents, it could suggest that 3D printing is a viable solution to the home construction industry’s labor shortage and supply chain issues (so long as they don’t run out of cyan).

How a goop becomes a home: Icon’s 15-and-a-half-foot-tall printers squeeze out layers of concrete like soft serve ice cream. In a week’s time, they can print the exterior and interior walls of a one-story, 2,000-square foot home.

Don’t expect a big discount for buyers, though. According to Lennar, the 3D-printed homes will be priced similarly to other homes in the Austin area—a city recently described as the “capital of homes selling at super premiums.”

Zoom out: Supporters of 3D-printed homes hope the technology’s cheaper building methods and more environmentally friendly assembly can offer solutions to the housing crisis and traditional construction’s carbon footprint.—MK