AUSTIN, Texas — When searching for the perfect home, factors like outdoor space, the number of bedrooms, kitchen size and more can all be things to consider.
To make the home-purchasing process easier, Austin startup construction company ICON has unveiled its latest features for potential new buyers.
During South by Southwest (SXSW), the company shared details on four new programs: a robotic construction system, a digital catalog, a printable concrete formula and a AI home design system.
"When we launched the company and the first permitted 3D-printed house in 2018 during SXSW, we set out to both decrease the cost and increase the quality of building instead of choosing one or the other," ICON co-founder and CEO Jason Ballard said. "We didn't want to just be the best at 3D printing, we wanted to be the best at building, period. Now, I believe we can say that is a reality."
The company's new robotic system, Phoenix, should cut printing costs in half by saving approximately $25,000 for an average home in the U.S. Pricing begins at $25 per square foot for wall systems and $80 per square foot for the foundation and roof.
Currently, a 27-foot tall demonstration building, created by Phoenix, is located in Austin.
The second new feature, CODEX, gives customers more than 60 printable home designs to choose from. Available collections include Texas modern, fire resilient, storm resilient, affordable and avant garde.
In order to become more environmentally conscientious, ICON also introduced its low-carbon building system, CarbonX, to offer 3D-printed homes beginning next month.
Following the recent increase in the use of artificial intelligence (AI), the startup also introduced an AI home design system called Vitruvius. Using the chat-based AI Architect system, potential home buyers can virtually create their own floor plans, interiors and exteriors.