The city has broken ground on its first 3D-printed housing community, called Zuri Gardens, a 13-acre development near William P. Hobby Airport that will include 80 energy-efficient homes.
The initial phase uses a robotic arm to 3D-print the first story of each home with low-carbon concrete, while the upper structure will be built using more conventional methods, according to developer HiveASMBLD. The 10-inch-thick walls are engineered to resist termites, mold and extreme weather — important features in the Houston climate — and offer strong insulation to reduce long-term energy costs.
Homebuyers will find affordability integrated into the design: homes, approximately 1,360 square feet with two bedrooms and 2½ bathrooms, are expected to cost in the mid- to high-$200,000s. The development is targeting households making between 80% and 120% of the area’s median income.
To help reduce buyer costs, the City of Houston is providing as much as $125,000 in down-payment assistance, and a $1.8 million forgivable loan has been awarded through the municipal Affordable Home Development Program.
Zuri Gardens will also feature community amenities, including a pavilion, a five-acre park, more than 140 parking spaces and 3D-printed benches.
In a nod to sustainability, the development includes a near-carbon-zero cement made from repurposed pozzolan — elements that promise to minimize the project’s carbon footprint, according to Eco Material Technologies, which is supplying the building material.
Interest in the project is strong: more than 300 prospective buyers are already on a waitlist for the 80 homes.
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with full buildout projected to take approximately 18 months.