The home, "Delilah at Independence Trail" in Burton, Texas, is just a few miles outside Brenham. The 3,150 square-foot home was Hive3D's first full large-scale project and features the use of never-before-used 3D house printing techniques such as parametric wall designs, foamcrete wall insulation, and pigmented concrete layers. The house was listed by an independent real estate broker, and the last owner of the property, David Pokorny.
"It's a pretty unique house, resistant to any type of wind storm, extremely solidly built, it would be impossible for it to turn over with a tornado or hurricane," CEO Timothy Lankau said.
The home was printed with carbon-friendly materials that add more strength to the walls than an average home, but also have the extra benefit of being very cost-effective to build. The materials have a lower carbon footprint than normal concrete, and its insulation with aerated concrete makes the structure sound-proof and seals off the home from extreme temperatures, making it more energy efficient, Lankau told Chron.
The Houston-based startup Hive3D has been working on other developments using 3D printing technology across the Texas region. For example, in Round Top, Texas, the company built five 400-900 square-foot "casitas" intended for short-term rentals in the popular Texas tourist destination known for its festivals and antique shows.
"Delilah at Independence Trail" was the company's most boundary-pushing project to date.
"We're trying to future-proof the homes," Lankau said, adding that these homes are meant to last for a long time, longer than an average wood-framed home. He says that's especially relevant now, as severe weather in Texas starts to become more common, and home insurance companies are willing to take on fewer and fewer policies in high-risk areas.
"Even though you can build a house up to code now, it might not be insurable in the future," Lankau said.
Lankau suggests that the three-bedroom, two-full-bath, and one-half-bath home, with a modern architectural style, would be an ideal fit for a family seeking a truly unique property. Sitting on 1.5 acres of land, and with a big pool in the backyard, Lankau says it's pretty hard to find property with these features under $800,000 in the area. The home is being sold below market at its current price tag, and it could go for even lower to $725,000, Lankau said.
But above all, the home was designed to be functional, with its 10-foot walls and 25-foot high ceilings in the main living room.
"It's meant to be a livable house, no different than any other house in functionality, the only thing you would notice is that the AC doesn't run as often," Lankau said adding that the structure's materials help keep the home at an even temperature throughout the day.
"It's a pretty environmentally conscious way to live," Lankau said.
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