ICON and Firmah Architecture Design Homes for Waco Surf Desperado
Amy Duong — April 20, 2026 — Art & Design
References: wacosurf
The Waco Surf Desperado development in Texas includes a series of 3D-printed homes designed by ICON and FIRMAH Architecture as part of a 450-acre residential community. The project plans 88 homes, including standalone houses and duplex units, arranged around surf lagoons and shared outdoor amenities. The structures are produced using ICON’s large-scale 3D printing system, forming curved concrete walls that define both the exterior and interior layouts.
The homes range from approximately 1,600 to 3,000 square feet and include two- to five-bedroom configurations. Interiors are designed with open layouts that follow the printed wall geometry, with reduced reliance on conventional framing methods. The development integrates features such as a second wave pool, a standing wave system, and recreational facilities across the site. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with initial homes expected to be completed in 2027.
Image Credit: Firmah Architecture
The homes range from approximately 1,600 to 3,000 square feet and include two- to five-bedroom configurations. Interiors are designed with open layouts that follow the printed wall geometry, with reduced reliance on conventional framing methods. The development integrates features such as a second wave pool, a standing wave system, and recreational facilities across the site. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with initial homes expected to be completed in 2027.
Image Credit: Firmah Architecture
Trend Themes
1. Large-scale 3d-printed Residential - Promises accelerated construction timelines and labor reductions by shifting production to automated, on-site printing systems that form structural walls directly.
2. Curved-form Architectural Layouts - Reimagines interior planning and space utilization through continuous, flowing concrete walls that challenge conventional framing and modular room geometries.
3. Amenity-centric Surf Communities - Positions residential design around specialized recreational infrastructure, creating new value propositions tied to lifestyle-driven neighborhood ecosystems.
Industry Implications
1. Residential Construction - Could see procurement and labor models disrupted as builders adopt large-format printers that streamline on-site assembly and reduce reliance on traditional trades.
2. Materials Manufacturing - Generates demand for bespoke printable concrete mixes and admixtures engineered for pumpability, cure-rate control, and long-span curved forms.
3. Recreational Real Estate Development - Creates opportunities for differentiated property valuations by bundling engineered surf amenities and purpose-built housing typologies into master-planned communities.
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