Your seat at the Additive Manufacturing Advantage awaits! Register free for AMA: Energy and AMA: Automotive & Mobility.
Texas-based construction 3D printing company ICON has released three one-bedroom homes for sale in Austin’s Mueller community through the Mueller Affordable Homes Program.
Each 650 to 651 square-foot residence forms part of a larger development that will also bring nearly a dozen two and three-bedroom 3D printed houses to the neighborhood. Designed by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture and developed with Catellus, the project has already begun along the Southwest Greenway, where residents will have access to trails, parkland, and views of a golf course.
“At ICON our north star is solving the global housing crisis. We are honored to support Austin’s housing goals by adding more homes through Mueller’s Affordable Homes program,” said Jared Kuhn, VP of Real Estate Development and Sales at ICON.
An ICON representative told New Atlas the one-bedroom homes will start at $195,000 compared to other 3D printed houses in Mueller that range from $350,000 to more than $1.3 million.
Mueller’s new 3D printed homes
The new homes have been designed as compact residences that emphasize efficiency, with layouts created to make everyday living straightforward and functional. On the ground floor, the kitchen, dining, and living spaces flow together as one open area, while the bedroom and bathroom are positioned upstairs to create separation and privacy. Features such as standing seam roofs, private entrances, and standard finishes round out the design.
Built with ICON’s CarbonX material, the structures are intended to provide thermal insulation that helps maintain stable indoor temperatures during Austin’s hot summers and mild winters. The homes are part of a broader neighborhood plan spread across 700 acres of the former municipal airport, located only three miles from downtown. Its master plan combines single-family homes, apartments, and townhouses with commercial areas, schools, and cultural destinations.
More than 140 acres of green space and around 12 miles of trails weave through the development, connecting residents to local shops, restaurants, and landmarks such as The Thinkery children’s museum and an H-E-B grocery store.
Managed by the nonprofit Mueller Foundation, the Mueller Affordable Homes Program has operated for more than two decades with the goal of reserving 25% of neighborhood housing for income-qualified buyers. Under city and federal guidelines, households earning up to 80% of the area’s median family income may apply.
According to Techeblog, that threshold is about $58,525 in Travis County, compared with Austin’s overall median household income of roughly $97,500. Workforce housing extends eligibility to those earning up to 120% of the median.
“The Mueller Foundation is dedicated to providing residents with affordable housing, a sustainable environment, strong economic development, and an active community,” said Robin Lafleur, Executive Director of The Mueller Foundation. “Households can face difficulty with the cost of living in Austin, and the Mueller Affordable Homes Program helps bridge that gap.”
3D printing affordable housing communities
Away from ICON, Houston-based automated construction 3D printing company HiveASMBLD recently began working on Zuri Gardens, a 13-acre affordable housing community in Southeast Houston that blends 3D printing with conventional building methods.
Developed with Cole Klein Builders and the City of Houston under the Affordable Home Development Program (AHDP), the project will deliver 80 homes averaging 1,360 sq. ft. and priced in the mid-to-high $200,000s, with buyers eligible for up to $125,000 in down payment assistance. The homes will feature 3D printed low-carbon concrete walls on the first floor with foam insulation, while the second floor incorporates LP Building Solutions’ siding, roofing, and flooring for added durability, energy efficiency, and weather resistance.
Elsewhere, LafargeHolcim and CDC Group’s joint venture 14Trees undertook Africa’s largest 3D printed affordable housing project in Kilifi, Kenya. Called Mvule Gardens, the development comprised 52 homes designed by MASS Design Group and built with Holcim’s proprietary TectorPrint ink and a BOD2 3D printer from COBOD.
The system produced structural walls capable of bearing loads, while reducing the environmental footprint by over 50% compared to traditional methods. Homes were printed up to 10 meters in length and width and three meters in height, with the project earning IFC-EDGE certification for sustainable, resource-efficient design.
Help choose the 2025 3D Printing Industry Awards winners – sign up for the Expert Committee now!
To stay up to date with the latest 3D printing news, don’t forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn.
While you’re here, why not subscribe to our Youtube channel? Featuring discussion, debriefs, video shorts, and webinar replays.
Featured image shows AI-generated image of ICON’s 3D printed homes under Mueller Affordable Homes Program. Image via ICON.
